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At least 109 records · Page 6

Thermal structure of Mars' atmosphere from Viking entry measurements

An experimental study using accelerometers as well as pressure and temperature sensors was carried out for accurate determination of the thermal structure of the atmosphere of Mars from nominally 100-km altitude to the planet surface during atmosphere entry of the two Viking landers. A comparison was made with the neutral thermal structure above 130 km and with the ion temperatures. Both entries exhibited strong temperature fluctuations about the mean, which was attributed to thermal tides. The mean temperature of the atmosphere above the boundary layer was shown to be governed by radiative equilibrium, while the radiative boundary layer was observed to be 4 km deep. Ion temperatures indicated a structure correlated with that of the neutral atmosphere at altitudes up to 160 km. Thickness of the convective boundary layer was 6.5 km in late summer afternoon.

Seiff, A.↗

The Seasat scanning multichannel microwave radiometer /SMMR/ - Radiometric calibration algorithm development and performance

Radiometric calibration algorithms for processing Seasat scanning multichannel microwave radiometer (SMMR) flight data are presented. An equation is derived which accounts for losses and reradiation in the microwave components and nonlinearities in the radiometer. The application of pre-launch calibration data to this derivation is described. A performance evaluation of the post-launch operation of the algorithm is presented, indicating temperature resolution of 0.63 K at 6.6 GHz and 1.39 K at 37 GHz.

Swanson, P. N.↗

Defect chemistry and characterization Hg(1-x)Cd(x)Te

Iodine doped single crystal samples of mercury cadmium telluride were annealed at temperatures varying from 450 C to 600 C in Hg vapor and quenched to room temperature. Hall effect measurements at 77 K on the crystals cooled to room temperature indicate the samples to be n-type after anneals at high Hg pressures whereas they turn p-type after anneals at low Hg pressures; the electron concentration increases with increase in Hg pressure. The results are explained on the basis that the crystals are saturated with (Hg,Cd)I2, with a fraction of the iodine being present as donor occupying tellurium lattice sites and a fraction being present as acceptors resulting from the iodine on tellurium lattice sites pairing with the doubly ionized native acceptor defects. The solubility of the donor species increases with increase in Hg pressure, whereas that of the acceptor species increases with decrease in Hg pressure. Equilibrium constants for the incorporation of the iodine species as well as the pairing reaction were established.

Vydyanath, H. R.↗

Topographic domes on Ganymede - Ice vulcanism or isostatic upwarping

Two formation processes are considered for two gently sloping domeshaped features on the surface of Ganymede, lying on grooved terrain and having diameters of roughly 250 km: (1) water vulcanism, triggered by a major impact, and (2) the isostatic upwarping of a crater formed in a thin crust. Numerical simulations show the volume of the domes to be consistent with eruption through fractures created by an impact that excavates partly through a thin crust. Isostatic upwarp rates calculated as a function of effective crustal temperature indicate that upwarping could also create such a dome if the impact excavated to a depth where the crust was sufficiently warm and mobile. Morphologic evidence suggests that both processes may have been important and, if either of the proposed models is correct, it is strongly implied that grooved terrain formation occurred prior to the thickening and stiffening of Ganymede's crust.

Squyres, S. W.↗

LPE growth of 1.3 micron InGaAsP CW lasers on /110/ InP substrates

A description is presented of the liquid-phase epitaxial (LPE) growth of high-quality InGaAsP/InP continuous-wave (CW) laser structures on (110) InP substrates using conventional LPE without the need for special growth procedures. Double heterojunction laser structures were grown using the LPE supercooling method with a horizontal sliding boat. Low broad-area current densities (970 A/sq cm) and CW operation achieved at room temperature indicate that results comparable to up-to-date devices may be achieved. The inherent tendency for surface planarity maintenance due to the perfect surface stoichiometry of the (110) surface is a feature that may lend itself to the generation of improved interface growth in quaternary III-V and related semiconductor alloy systems. The similar cross-sectional appearance of structures grown on (110) and (100) orientations show that conventional LPE can be used with (110) surface planes without introducing special growth procedures.

Hawrylo, F. Z.↗

Theoretical predictions of deuterium abundances in the Jovian planets

Current concepts for the origin of the Jovian planets and current constraints on their interior structure are used to support the argument that the presence of large amounts of 'ice' (H2O, CH4, and NH3) in Uranus and Neptune indicates temperature low enough to condense these species at the time Uranus and Neptune formed. Such low temperatures, however, imply orders-of-magnitude fractionation effects for deuterium into the 'ice' component if isotopic equilibration can occur. The present models thus imply that Uranus and Neptune should have D/H ratio at least four times primordial, contrary to observation for Uranus. It is found that the Jovian and Saturnian D/H should be close to primordial regardless of formation scenario.

Hubbard, W. B.↗

Methods of editing cloud and atmospheric layer affected pixels from satellite data

Plotted transects made from south Texas daytime HCMM data show the effect of subvisible cirrus (SCI) clouds in the emissive (IR) band but the effect is unnoticable in the reflective (VIS) band. The depression of satellite indicated temperatures ws greatest in the center of SCi streamers and tapered off at the edges. Pixels of uncontaminated land and water features in the HCMM test area shared identical VIS and IR digital count combinations with other pixels representing similar features. A minimum of 0.015 percent repeats of identical VIS-IR combinations are characteristic of land and water features in a scene of 30 percent cloud cover. This increases to 0.021 percent of more when the scene is clear. Pixels having shared VIS-IR combinations less than these amounts are considered to be cloud contaminated in the cluster screening method. About twenty percent of SCi was machine indistinguishable from land features in two dimensional spectral space (VIS vs IR).

Nixon, P. R.↗

Radar reflectivities and satellite imagery of severe storms 20 May 1977

Storms on 20 May 1977 generated a vast cirrus deck. Disturbed areas at storm top had equivalent black-body temperatures (T sub BB) much lower than the tropopause temperature, indicative of overshooting tops. The area of T sub BB not greater than -71 C represents the area of convective activity penetrating 2 km above the tropopause. This area was relatively large after cloud tops and radar reflectivities reached their maximum heights. It became much smaller during tornadoes when reflectivities were decreasing. T sub BB was at a minimum at the time of mesocyclone formation. The Del City storm had two periods of growth, as indicated both by reflectivities and the T sub BB areas. The mesocyclone was first detected during the second less intense period of growth; the tornado occurred during decreasing reflectivities. The maintenance of large areas of relatively low T sub BB after tornado dissipation is ascribed to continued convection on the flanks of the storm and to residual updrafts in a thick anvil cloud.

Wexler, R.↗

The stability of ground ice in the equatorial region of Mars

The lifetime of an unreplenished layer of ground ice lying within 30 deg of the Martian equator was examined within the context of the existing data base on Martian regolith and climate. Data on the partial pressure of H2O in the Martian atmosphere and the range of mean annual temperatures indicated the ground ice would be restricted to latitudes poleward of 40 deg. However, the ground ice near the poles may be a relic from early Martian geologic times held in place by a thin layer of regolith. Consideration of twelve model pore size distributions, similar to silt- and clay-type earth soils, was combined with a parallel pore model of gaseous diffusion to calculate the flux of H2O molecules escaping from the subsurface ground ice layer. Martian equatorial ground ice was found to be influenced by the soil structure, the magnitude of the geothermal gradient, the climatic desorption of CO2 from the regolith. It is concluded that equatorial ground ice is present on Mars only if a process of replenishment is active.

Clifford, S. M.↗

Effects of broadened property fuels on radiant heat flux to gas turbine combustor liners

The effects of fuel type, inlet air pressure, inlet air temperature, and fuel/air ratio on the combustor radiation were investigated. Combustor liner radiant heat flux measurements were made in the spectral region between 0.14 and 6.5 microns at three locations in a modified commercial aviation can combustor. Two fuels, Jet A and a heavier distillate research fuel called ERBS were used. The use of ERBS fuel as opposed to Jet A under similar operating conditions resulted in increased radiation to the combustor liner and hence increased backside liner temperature. This increased radiation resulted in liner temperature increases always less than 73 C. The increased radiation is shown by way of calculations to be the result of increased soot concentrations in the combustor. The increased liner temperatures indicated can substantially affect engine maintenance costs by reducing combustor liner life up to 1/3 because of the rapid decay in liner material properties when operated beyond their design conditions.

Haggard, J. B., Jr.↗

Surface roughness effects with solid lubricants dispersed in mineral oils

The lubricating effectiveness of solid-lubricant dispersions are investigated in both point and line contacts using surfaces with both random and directional roughness characteristics. Friction and wear data obtained at relatively low speeds and at room temperature, indicate that the existence of solid lubricants such as graphite, MoS2, and PTFE in a plain mineral oil generally will not improve the effectiveness of the oil as a lubricant for such surfaces. Under boundary lubrication conditions, the friction force, as a function of time, initially depends upon the directional roughness properties of the contacting surfaces irrespective of whether the base oil or dispersions are used as lubricants.

Cusano, C.↗

Rocket nozzle lip flow by direct simulation Monte Carlo method

The flow in the immediate vicinity of a rocket nozzle lip has been analyzed, and the results are presented. A rapid change in gas composition is observed in the flow around the lip depending principally on species molecular mass and local flow angle. The divergence of axial and radial temperatures indicating breakdown of translational equilibrium is observed in the results.

Hueser, J. E.↗

Space station common module thermal management: Design and construction of a test bed

In this project, a thermal test bed was designed, simulated, and planned for construction. The thermal system features interior and exterior thermal loads and interfacing with the central-radiator thermal bus. Components of the test bed include body mounted radiator loop with interface heat exchangers (600 Btu/hr); an internal loop with cabin air-conditioning and cold plates (3400 Btu/hr); interface heat exchangers to the central bus (13,000 Btu/hr); and provisions for new technology including advanced radiators, thermal storage, and refrigeration. The apparatus will be mounted in a chamber, heated with lamps, and tested in a vacuum chamber with LN2-cooled walls. Simulation of the test bed was accomplished using a DEC PRO 350 computer and the software package TK! olver. Key input variables were absorbed solar radiation and cold plate loads. The results indicate temperatures on the two loops will be nominal when the radiation and cold plate loads are in the range of 25% to 75% of peak loads. If all loads fall to zero, except the cabin air system which was fixed, the radiator fluid will drop below -100 F and may cause excessive pressure drop. If all loads reach 100%, the cabin air temperature could rise to 96 F.

Barile, R. G.↗

Field-aligned electron precipitation at the edge of an arc

Measurements of field-aligned electrons at the edge of an arc are presented from a sounding rocket flight through a quiet afternoon auroral arc. High time resolution measurements show the evolution of the electron distribution function over the 2.3-km width of field-aligned precipitation. A nearly constant 1.2-eV perpendicular temperature was found for these field-aligned fluxes over a broad range of parallel energies (100 - 900 eV). The small perpendicular temperature indicates that the acceleration region is located at a low altitude. Two models of cold plasma convection into the edge of a V-shaped potential structure are examined and found to be consistent with both the observed fluxes and spatial width of the edge precipitation. Both models predict an average source plasma density less than 130/cu cm to account for the observed field-aligned fluxes and thus an acceleration region well above 1000 km.

Mcfadden, J. P.↗

A simple method for monitoring surface temperatures in plasma treatments

A method consisting of applying temperature markers on the specimen is described for measuring the highest temperature reached by very thin films in situ during deposition. In the first test setup, lowering the input power to 500 W only effected the 177-C marker, while increasing the input power to 1.25 kW effected the 274-C marker. In tests conducted in a dc plasma with markers placed on the uncooled cathode in Ar plasma, the maximum temperatures indicated by the thermocouple matched a change in color of the markers, and no effect of earlier sublimation or decomposition was noted.

Manory, R. R.↗

High-pressure metallization of FeO and implications for the earth's core

The phase diagram of FeO has been experimentally determined to pressures of 155 GPa and temperatures of 4000 K using shock-wave and diamond-cell techniques. A metallic phase of FeO is observed at pressures greater than 70 GPa and temperatures exceeding 1000 K. The metallization of FeO at high pressures implies that oxygen can be present as the light alloying element of the earth's outer core, in accord with the geochemical predictions of Ringwood (1977 and 1979). The high pressures necessary for this metallization suggest that the core has acquired its composition well after the initial stages of the earth's accretion. Direct experimental observations at elevated pressures and temperatures indicate that core-forming alloy can react chemically with oxides such as those forming the mantle. The core and mantle may never have reached complete chemical equilibrium, however. If this is the case, the core-mantle boundary is likely to be a zone of active chemical reactions.

Knittle, Elise↗

Muon motion in titanium hydride

Motional narrowing of the transverse-field muon spin rotation signal was observed in gamma-TiH(x) for x = 1.83, 1.97, and 1.99. An analysis of the data for TiH1.99 near room temperature indicates that the mechanism responsible for the motion of the muon out of the octahedral site is thermally activated diffusion with an attempt frequency comparable to the optical vibrations of the lattice. Monte Carlo calculations to simulate the effect of muon and proton motion upon the muon field-correlation time were used to interpret the motional narrowing in TiH1.97 near 500 K. The interpretation is dependent upon whether the Bloembergen, Purcell, and Pound (BPP) theory or an independent spin-pair relaxation model is used to obtain the vacancy jump rate from proton NMR T1 measurements. Use of BPP theory shows that the field-correction time can be obtained if the rate of motion of the muon with respect to the rate of the motion for the protons is decreased. An independent spin-pair relaxation model indicates that the field-correlation time can be obtained if the rate of motion for the nearest-neighbor protons is decreased.

Kempton, J. R.↗

Modulated-splitting-ratio fiber-optic temperature sensor

A fiber-optic temperature sensor is described, which uses a small silicon beamsplitter whose splitting ratio varies as a function of temperature. A four-beam technique is used to measure the sensor's temperature-indicating splitting ratio. This referencing method provides a measurement that is largely independent of the transmission properties of the sensor's optical fiber link. A significant advantage of this sensor, relative to other fiber-optic sensors, is its high stability, which permits the fiber-optic components to be readily substituted, thereby simplifying the sensor's installation and maintenance.

Beheim, Glenn↗