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At least 1,063 records · Page 59

TOI-431/HIP 26013: a super-Earth and a sub-Neptune transiting a bright, early K dwarf, with a third RV planet

We present the bright (V mag = 9.12), multiplanet system TOI-431, characterized with photometry and radial velocities (RVs). We estimate the stellar rotation period to be 30.5 ± 0.7 d using archival photometry and RVs. Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite ( TESS ) objects of Interest (TOI)-431 b is a super-Earth with a period of 0.49 d, a radius of 1.28 ± 0.04 R ⊕ , a mass of 3.07 ± 0.35 M ⊕ , and a density of 8.0 ± 1.0 g cm −3 ; TOI-431 d is a sub-Neptune with a period of 12.46 d, a radius of 3.29 ± 0.09 R ⊕ , a mass of 9.90+1.53 −1.49 M ⊕ , and a density of 1.36 ± 0.25 g cm −3 . We find a third planet, TOI-431 c, in the High Accuracy Radial velocity Planet Searcher RV data, but it is not seen to transit in the TESS light curves. It has an Msin i of 2.83+0.41 −0.34 M ⊕ , and a period of 4.85 d. TOI-431 d likely has an extended atmosphere and is one of the most well-suited TESS discoveries for atmospheric characterization, while the super-Earth TOI-431 b may be a stripped core. These planets straddle the radius gap, presenting an interesting case-study for atmospheric evolution, and TOI-431 b is a prime TESS discovery for the study of rocky planet phase curves.

Ares Osborn↗

NASA’s Space Launch System: Artemis I Results and the Path Forward

On Nov. 16, 2022, NASA launched the Artemis I mission on the agency’s new SLS (Space Launch System) rocket. The debut launch of the integrated vehicle sent an uncrewed Orion spacecraft into a distant retrograde (DRO) orbit about the Moon to accomplish multiple mission objectives, including evaluating Orion’s heatshield at lunar return velocities and collecting critical data from the first flight of the new superheavy lift launch vehicle. Post-flight data analyses show that the rocket performed with a high degree of precision and accuracy. In addition to completing testing and launch of the Artemis I SLS in 2022, notable progress was made on hardware for future launch vehicles that will support Artemis missions II, III, IV, and V. The Artemis II core stage is mostly complete, and its RS-25 engines were integrated in the fall of 2023. The Artemis II solid rocket booster motor segments were shipped to the launch site in September 2023. Propellant tanks are being manufactured for additional missions, solid booster segments are being cast and prepared, software is being developed, and production of new RS-25 engines is underway. A more capable upper stage is in development, as well as a large adapter to encapsulate a 10-metric ton (t) co-manifested payload. This paper will provide details on the Artemis I flight as well as cover hardware progress for the future flights as available.

John Honeycutt↗

Spatially-Resolved Freestream Velocity Measurements at the NASA Langley 31-Inch Mach 10 Air Tunnel Using FLEET

Freestream velocity measurements in the NASA Langley 31-inch Mach 10 wind tunnel are reported in this paper using Femtosecond Laser Electronic Excitation Tagging (FLEET). The freestream measurements acquired during the January 2023 test campaign were the first direct measurement of freestream velocity in this hypersonic wind tunnel facility. Spatial distributions of time-averaged and instantaneous velocity measurements were obtained at all three typical wind tunnel freestream unit Reynolds number conditions of Re∞/L = 1.8∙106 m-1, 3.6∙106 m-1, and 6.4∙106 m-1, though the current paper focuses on centerline measurements for the three Re∞/L and spatial distributions for one Re∞/L. Measured values for time-averaged velocity and mean of the instantaneous velocity at the wind tunnel centerline agree within 5 m/s or 0.4% of the calculated velocity from the facility data acquisition system. Measurements acquired at locations away from the wind tunnel centerline reveal the spatial extent of the core flow of the hypersonic facility.

FLEET↗

Spatially-Resolved Freestream Velocity Measurements at the NASA Langley 31-Inch Mach 10 Air Tunnel Using FLEET

Freestream velocity measurements in the NASA Langley 31-inch Mach 10 wind tunnel are reported in this paper using Femtosecond Laser Electronic Excitation Tagging (FLEET). The freestream measurements acquired during the January 2023 test campaign were the first direct measurement of freestream velocity in this hypersonic wind tunnel facility. Spatial distributions of time-averaged and instantaneous velocity measurements were obtained at all three typical wind tunnel freestream unit Reynolds number conditions of Re∞/L = 1.8∙106 m-1, 3.6∙106 m-1, and 6.4∙106 m-1, though the current paper focuses on centerline measurements for the three Re∞/L and spatial distributions for one Re∞/L. Measured values for time-averaged velocity and mean of the instantaneous velocity at the wind tunnel centerline agree within 5 m/s or 0.4% of the calculated velocity from the facility data acquisition system. Measurements acquired at locations away from the wind tunnel centerline reveal the spatial extent of the core flow of the hypersonic facility.

FLEET↗

Shear wave velocities in the earth's mantle.

Direct measurement of the travel time gradient for S waves together with travel time data are used to derive a shear velocity model for the earth's mantle. In order to satisfy the data it is necessary to discard the usual assumption of lateral homogeneity below shallow depths. A shear velocity differential is proposed for a region between western North America and areas of the Pacific Ocean. Distinctive features of the velocity model for the upper mantle beneath western North America are a low-velocity zone centered at 100 km depth and zones of high velocity gradient beginning at 400, 650, and 900 km.

Robinson, R.↗

Fuel spray data with LDV

Droplet size and two component velocities in the severe environment of an operating gas turbine combustor system can be measured simultaneously using the solar laser morphokinetomer (SLM) which incorporates the following capabilities: (1) measurement of a true two-dimensional velocity vector with a range of + or - (0.01-200 m/sec); (2) measurement of particle size (range 5 to 300 micron m) simultaneously with the measurement of velocity; (3) specification of probe volume position coordinates with a high degree of accuracy (+ or - 0.5 mm); (4) immediate on-line data checks; and (5) rapid computer storage of acquired data. The optical system of the SLM incorporates an ultrasonic beam splitter to allow the measurement of a two-dimensional velocity vector simultaneously with particle size. A microprocessor with a limited storage capability permits immediate analysis of test data in the test cell.

Rohy, D. A.↗

A comparison between the current models of mid-latitude spread F and data from the Arecibo Observatory

The current models of mid-latitude F sub s are studied. The assumptions and derivations of the Reid model, the Scannapieco model, and the Perkins model are presented in detail. Incoherent-scatter data of the density profiles and velocity profiles were obtained in order that the models could be evaluated on the basis of experimental data. Initial studies indicated that the Perkins model was most representative of the data from Arecibo, so a detailed comparison of the predictions of the Perkins model and the data was made. Two of four nights studied are nights with F sub s. The Perkins model is derived in a frame of reference moving with the velocity of the neutral wind; the model is transformed to the rest frame to facilitate comparison with data. Several data handling techniques are introduced. In particular, an integration interval that remains constant in length, but follows the vertical motion of the peak of the F layer is used to obtain the field integrated quantities of the Perkins model.

Imel, G.↗

Airfoil trailing edge flow measurements and comparison with theory, incorporating open wind tunnel corrections

Trailing edge data for boundary layer-near wake thickness parameters are given for airfoils and flat plates. Reynolds number effects are examined as a function of model size, velocity and boundary layer tripping. These data expand that presented previously by the authors particularly for airfoil non-zero angles of attack. Comparisons are made here with boundary layer calculations using potential flow modeling and a well documented two-dimensional finite-difference method for laminar and turbulent boundary layers. Open wind tunnel corrections to angle of attack and camber are developed and are incorporated in the potential flow modeling to assure correct comparisons for non-zero angles of attack. It was found that although the open tunnel flow turbulence affected boundary layer transition for the higher velocities the theory successfully 'brackets' the data. Comparisons demonstrate the degree of accuracy one might expect for the prediction of boundary layer thickness parameters when given only geometry and nominal flow conditions as input to boundary layer codes.

Brooks, T. F.↗

In Hot Pursuit of the Hidden Companion of Carinae: An X-Ray Determination of the Wind Parameters

We present X-ray spectral fits to a recently obtained Chandra grating spectrum of eta Carinae, one of the most massive and powerful stars in the Galaxy and which is strongly suspected to be a colliding wind binary system. Hydrodynamic models of colliding winds are used to generate synthetic X-ray spectra for a range of mass-loss rates and wind velocities. They are then fitted against newly acquired Chandra grating data. We find that due to the low velocity of the primary wind (approximately 500 km per sec), most of the observed X-ray emission appears to arise from the shocked wind of the companion star. We use the duration of the lightcurve minimum to fix the wind momentum ratio at eta = 0.2. We are then able to obtain a good fit to the data by varying the mass-loss rate of the companion and the terminal velocity of its wind. We find that M(sub 2) is approximately 10(exp -5) solar mass per yr and upsilon(sub infinity(sub 2)) is approximately 3000 km per sec. With observationally determined values of approximately 500- 700 km per sec for the velocity of the primary wind, our fit implies a primary mass-loss rate of M(sub 1) approximately 2.5 x 10(exp -4) solar mass per yr. This value is smaller than commonly inferred, although we note that a lower mass-loss rate can reduce some of the problems noted when a value as high as 10(exp -3) solar mass per yr is used. The wind parameters of the companion are indicative of a massive star which may or may not be evolved. The line strengths appear to show slightly sub-solar abundances, although this needs further confirmation. It also appears that the primary star is responsible for the nebula.

Pittard, J. M.↗

An Eulerian multimaterial framework for simulating high-explosive aquarium tests

Aquarium tests of cylindrical high-explosive charges provide optical data of the detonation front velocity and shape, propagation of the shock wave in the surrounding water, and expansion rates of the detonation products behind the front. Data from aquarium experiments is often used for calibration of reactive burn models based on phenomenological equations of state (EOS) and reaction rate laws. This paper presents a multimaterial numerical modeling framework to solve the 2D axisymmetric reactive Euler equations for high-explosive aquarium tests, in particular for ammonium nitrate - fuel oil (ANFO) explosives. An extension of the Ghost Fluid Method (GFM) is used to handle the dynamic material interfaces for the ANFO explosion products, the charge-confining material (polymethyl methacrylate PMMA), and the surrounding water. This study analyzes the sensitivity of calculations (both computational efficiency and numerical accuracy) to different algorithms for the material interface models including the original GFM versus Riemann solver-based strategies. A novel method for defining the left and right states in the interfacial Riemann problem eliminates the need for sorting or nodal interpolation during the projection along the material interface. Numerical tests indicate that populating the interface node values using the Riemann solution mitigate the overheating error observed in steady-state calculations. Solution convergence and computational efficiency are explored as a function of the spatial and temporal order of the schemes. Results from the computational model with analytical equations of state and fitted reaction rate parameters show very good quantitative agreement with experimentally observed detonation front velocity, reaction products expansion, and shock wave propagation in the surrounding water for a cylindrical ANFO charge encased in PMMA. Finally, the proposed modeling framework, in conjunction with experimental tests, provides a reliable tool to assess equations of state and reaction rate expressions for reactive burn models of confined high explosives.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Beyond Taylor’s hypothesis: a novel volumetric reconstruction of velocity and density fields for variable‑density and shear flows

Abstract This work presents a novel numerical procedure for reconstructing volumetric density and velocity fields from planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) and stereoscopic particle image velocimetry (SPIV) data. This new method is theoretically and practically demonstrated to provide more accurate 3D vortical structures and density fields in high shear flows than reconstruction methods based on the mean convective velocity. While Taylor’s hypothesis of frozen turbulence is commonly applied by using the local mean streamwise velocity, the proposed algorithm uses the measured local instantaneous velocity for data convection. It consists of a step-by-step reconstruction based on a mixed Lagrangian–Eulerian solver that includes the 3D interpolation of scattered flow data and that relaxes the Taylor’s hypothesis by iterative enforcement of the incompressibility constraint on the velocity field. This methodology provides 3D fields with temporal resolution, spatial resolution, and accuracy comparable to that of real 3D snapshots, thus providing a practical alternative to tomographic measurements. The procedure is validated using numerical data of the constant-density channel flow available on the Johns Hopkins University Turbulence Database (JHTDB), showing the accurate reconstruction of the 3D velocity field. The algorithm is applied to an experimental dataset of PLIF and SPIV measurements of a variable-density jet flow, demonstrating its capability to provide 3D velocity and density fields that are more consistent with the Navier–Stokes equations compared to the mean flow convective method. Graphic abstract

42 ENGINEERING↗

Absorption by halo gas in the direction of M13

A high velocity cloud in the direction 1 = 59 degrees, b = 41 degrees is detected in absorption at approximately -80 km/s in high dispersion IUE spectra of the blue star Barnard 29 in the globular cluster M13. The cloud is also seen in the H I 21 cm emission data of Kerr and Knapp (1972). Its radial velocity agrees with Giovanelli's data (1980, 1981) for high velocity clouds seen in this general direction of the sky. The cloud's motion is incompatible with the suggestions that neutral halo gas corotates with disk gas. The motion could be explained if neutral halo gas rotates more slowly than disk gas with increasing distance from the galactic plane. Because of our very limited understanding of the actual motions of halo gas, the scale height of this gas is best derived from plots of N sin b versus z for galactic and extragalactic stars.

De Boer, K. S.↗

Back Trajectories during SAIL

This data set contains air mass back trajectories generated during the Surface Atmosphere Integrated Field Laboratory (SAIL) campaign using the Hybrid Single-Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory model (HYSPLIT, Stein et al. 2015, Rolph et al. 2017). For each hour from January 1, 2021 to June 30, 2023, a 96-hour back trajectory was initiated at the SAIL sampling site, starting 100 m above ground level. The calculations used the GDAS meteorological data set with model vertical velocity. The files within this dataset show location and meteorological parameters of the back trajectory analysis. There are 21 columns within each data file. The first 2 columns pertain to back trajectory parameters: the trajectory number (which is always 1) and the meteorological grid number. The next 9 columns pertain to spatiotemporal information: the year, month, day, hour (0-23), and minute of the trajectory, the previous time of the trajectory (in negative hours), and the airmass location (latitude, longitude, and height in m AGL). The rest of the parameters within each file pertains to surface and meteorological characteristics of the airmass: pressure (in hPa), potential temperature (in K), temperature (in K), precipitation rate (in mm/hr), mixing depth (in m), relative humidity (in % relative to liquid water), specific humidity (in g/kg), H2O mixing ratio (in g/kg), underlying terrain height (in meters above sea level), and incoming radiation (in W/m^2).

back trajectory↗

Effect of jet exit vanes on flow pulsations in an open-jet wind tunnel

An investigation was conducted of various jet exit vane configurations in the open test section of the Langley 4- by 7-Meter Tunnel to determine their effectiveness in reducing flow pulsations. The data consist of the instantaneous velocity fluctuations measured with hot-wire anemometers located at the tunnel centerline, 39.5 ft (12.0) downstream of the jet exit. The data are presented in the form of measured root-mean-square turbulence levels in the test section and a time series analysis for the baseline jet exit configuration (without vanes) and forthe most effective vane configuration, which consisted of triangular vanes alternating into and out of the flow around the jet exit.

Sellers, W. L., III↗

Measurement of horizontal motions in Alaska using very long baseline interferometry

Results are presented on an analysis of VLBI measurements performed between 1984 and 1990 by means of a network of 53 sites in Alaska, the Yukon Territory, and the conterminous United States to determine the extent of horizontal motions in Alaska. Results are presented in two ways, one showing the evolution of individual baselines and the other yielding site velocities; both approaches use VLBI data from other permanent stations in order to define a global reference frame. It was found that VLBI sites within the Alaska-Aleutian subduction boundary zone (Yakataga, Kodiak, and Sand Point) had higher instantaneous velocities relative to eastern North America than the interior sites of Alaska. The results of Yakataga data modeling suggests that the observed motion is the result of elastic straining of the overriding plate due to a locked main thrust zone with a component of oblique slip.

Ma, C.↗

Counter-rotating propellant analysis using a frequency domain panel method

The unsteady aerodynamic coupling between the front and rear rotors in a counter-rotating propeller system is analyzed using a frequency-domain panel method based on linear compressible aerodynamic theory. The periodic loads are decomposed into harmonics, and the harmonic amplitudes are found iteratively. Each stage of the interation involves the solution of an isolated propeller problem, the interaction being done through the Fourier transform of the induced velocity field. The method was validated by comparing mean performance parameters with measured data and by comparing the predicted velocity field with detailed laser Doppler velocimeter measurements. Comparisons have also been made between the fluctuating loads predicted by the present method and a time-domain panel method.

Williams, Marc H.↗