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At least 109 records · Page 6

Altitudinal, diurnal and latitudinal dependences for ionic concentrations formed by corpuscular fluxes in the stratosphere and mesosphere

On the basis of over 15 rocket measurements of ionic concentrations below 80 km, the height, daily and latitudinal dependences between positive ionic concentrations and cosmic ray intensity below 60 km as well as between ionic concentrations and corpuscular streams within the 60-80 km altitude range are compared. It is shown that ionic concentration and cosmic ray intensity below 60 km at night are likely to be interrelated, in conformity with Chapman's theory of the simple layer. In daytime, all phenomena are aggravated by photodetachment and ion exchange reactions with the participation of ozone. Between 60-80 km, besides ordinary cosmic rays, there must exist an additional corpuscular stream.

Bragin, Y. A.↗

Time sequence analysis of flickering auroras. I - Application of Fourier analysis

Using a technique that enables one to digitize the brightness of auroral displays from individual fields of a video signal, we have analyzed the frequency content of flickering aurora. Through the application of Fourier analysis to our data, we have found that flickering aurora contains a wide range of enhanced frequencies, although the dominant frequency enhancement generally occurs in the range 6-12 Hz. Each incidence of flickering that we observed was associated with increased radio wave absorption. Furthermore, we have found that flickering occurs in bright auroral surges, the occurrence of which is not limited to the 'breakup' phase of auroral substorms. Our results are interpreted in terms of a recently proposed theory of fluctuating double layers that accounts for a number of the observational features.

Berkey, F. T.↗

Radiative transfer theory for passive microwave remote sensing of a two-layer random medium with cylindrical structures

A model of the vegetation layer as a two-layer random medium with a small correlation length l sub rho in the horizontal direction, and a large correlation length l sub z in the vertical direction, is presented for fields with cylindrical structures. As l sub z approaches infinity, closed form solutions are derived for the brightness temperatures; the kernels in the scattering terms of the radiative transfer equations result in delta functions showing that forward scattering is dominant over all other directions. The results are compared with the Gaussian quadrature method data for numerical solution of the radiative transfer equations.

Chuang, S. L.↗

Ladder and cross terms in second-order distorted Born approximation

In the strong fluctuation theory for a bounded layer of random discrete scatterers, the second moments of the fields in the second-order distorted Born approximation are obtained for copolarized and cross-polarized fields. The backscattering cross sections per unit area are calculated by including the mutual coherence of the fields due to the coincidental ray paths, and that due to the opposite ray paths, corresponding to the ladder and cross terms in the Feynman diagramatic representation. It is proved that the contributions from ladder and cross terms for the copolarized backscattering cross sections are the same, while the contributions for the cross-polarized backscattering cross sections are of the same order. The bistatic scattering coefficients in the second-order approximation for both the ladder and cross terms are also obtained. The contributions from the cross terms explain the enhancement in the backscattering direction.

Jin, Y. Q.↗

Experimental and Theoretical Studies of Wetting and Multilayer Adsorption

The recent work with partially miscible binary liquid mixtures has established that the structure of the liquid-vapor interface can undergo a first-order phase transition from incomplete to complete wetting of the vapor as the temperature is raised. A discontinuity in the change of interfacial tension as a function of temperature at the phase transition has been predicted to occur in many systems and to play an important role in the growth of uniform composites from alloy melts at monotectic points. These measurements are the first to establish the order of the transition. Studies of capillary rise in SF6 in a unique interferometer have led to the first measurements of the thickness of wetting layers (or equivalently, multilayer adsorbed films) on a solid surface near a liquid-vapor critical point. Instabilities in wetting layers were observed. A theory for the instabilities is being developed and will be checked by both static and dynamic optical experiments. The effect of gravity on the apparent thickness of interfaces (as measured by ellipsometry) is under study.

Moldover, M. R.↗

Ozone and the stratosphere

It is shown that the stratospheric ozone is effective in absorbing almost all radiation below 300 nm at heights below 300 km. The distribution of global ozone in the troposphere and the lower stratosphere, and the latitudinal variations of the total ozone column over four seasons are considered. The theory of the ozone layer production is discussed together with catalytic reactions for ozone loss and the mechanisms of ozone transport. Special attention is given to the anthropogenic perturbations, such as SST exhaust gases and freon gas from aerosol cans and refrigerators, that may cause an extensive destruction of the stratospheric ozone layer and thus have a profound impact on the world climate and on life.

Shimazaki, Tatsuo↗

Third Stokes parameter emission from a periodic water surface

An experiment in which the third Stokes parameter thermal emission from a periodic water surface was measured is documented. This parameter is shown to be related to the direction of periodicity of the periodic surface and to approach brightnesses of up to 30 K at X band for the surface used in the experiment. The surface actually analyzed was a 'two-layer' periodic surface; the theory of thermal emission from such a surface is derived and the theoretical results are found to be in good agreement with the experimental measurements. These results further the idea of using the third Stokes parameter emission as an indicator of wind direction over the ocean.

Johnson, J. T.↗

Thermal Tides and Stationary Waves Revealed by MGS TES

Atmospheric temperature retrievals from TES observed radiances make possible the most complete separation of the constituent wave modes evident in Mars atmosphere to date. We use all of the data from the pre-mapping mission phase, which affords good sampling of the diurnal tides and stationary waves. TES retrievals of atmospheric temperature on a grid of pressure levels are the fundamental data set in this study. We then fit this data to selected fourier modes in longitude and time for latitude and L(sub s) bins. From this we have identified the amplitudes and phases of the diurnal and semi-diurnal tides, the first few (gravest) stationary waves and standing waves, as well as an estimate of the zonal and time mean temperature meridional cross sections. These results will be compared with existing models and theory. A possible critical layer for the sun-synchronous diurnal tide may indicate 40 m/s surface zonal wind near 50S for L(sub s) =255-285. Additional information is contained in the original extended abstract.

Banfield, D.↗

Theoretical and experimental investigations of collective microwave phenomena in solids

Methods of generating microwave shear waves efficiently were studied. A new technique of mode conversion from a longitudinal wave to a shear wave was investigated and virtually 100% conversion efficiency could be obtained. Several aspects of Gunn oscillators were studied. One involved the detailed study of domains in Gunn oscillators using long samples of bulk gallium arsenide. Several new techniques were devised for measuring the properties of the domains. A fundamental theory of the efficiency of a Gunn oscillator was worked out. A computer program was devised to study the transient effect of domains passing through Gunn diodes. Some of the first planar epitaxial Gunn oscillators were made using liquid epitaxial material grown by liquid phase techniques on semi-insulating substrate. A new theory which predicted the properties of RF signals propagating in a thin film layer of GaAs was developed. The theory of the operation of a traveling wave amplifier is described.

Kino, G. S.↗

Spiky ion acoustic waves in collisionless auroral plasma

A theory of spiky electric fields in 'inverted V' precipitation regions is elaborated and compared with recent spacecraft observations of solitary waves and double layers. A prediction from the theory is that the electric fields propagate along the magnetic field as perturbed ion acoustic solitons that intensify by exchanging momentum with reflected particles. The solitons have minimum scale lengths of approximately 100 m and maximum electric potential and field amplitudes of 1-10 V and 1-10 mV/m. They propagate at the local ion acoustic speed and are Doppler-shifted by the drift speed of upward flowing cold ions. Both rarefactive and compressive solitons with, respectively, negative and positive electric potentials are possible. It is noted that upward propagating compressive modes intensify when the upward flow of ionospheric ions exceeds approximately 10 times the local ion acoustic speed. The kinematic and dynamic properties of rarefactive solitons are found to be consistent with recent observations.

Lotko, W.↗

First in-situ observations of neutral and plasma density fluctuations within a PMSE layer

The NLC-91 rocket and radar campaign provided the first opportunity for high resolution neutral and plasma turbulence measurements with simultaneous observations of PMSE (Polar Mesospheric Summer Echoes). During the flight of the TURBO payload on August 1, 1991, Cornell University Portable Radar Interferometer (CUPRI) and European Incoherent Scattter facility (EISCAT) observed double PMSE layers located at 86 and 88 km altitude, respectively. Strong neutral density fluctuations were observed in the upper layer but not in the lower layer. The fluctuation spectra of the ions and neutrals within the upper layer are consistent with standard turbulence theories. However, we show that there is no neutral turbulence present in the lower layer and that something else must have been operating here to create the plasma fluctuations and hence the radar echoes. Although the in situ measurements of the electron density fluctuations are much stronger in the lower layer, the higher absolute electron density of the upper layer more than compensated for the weaker fluctuations yielding comparable radar echo powers.

Lubken, Franz-Josef↗

Flutter and buckling of general laminated plates

An anisotropic buckling and flutter analysis is developed with allowance for both bending-extensional coupling and bending-twisting coupling within the framework of linear small deflection theory for simply supported general laminated plates. The extended Galerkin method is used to obtain approximate solutions to the coupled governing equations. The effects of various anisotropic stiffness parameters on the static and dynamic stability of laminated plates are evaluated, with particular emphasis on assessing the range of applicability of classical orthotropic plate theory. It is shown that bending-extensional coupling and bending-twisting stiffness terms have a destabilizing effect on buckling and flutter, the effect being more pronounced for a small number of layers. For symmetric plates, the number of layers required for orthotropic plate theory to be applicable is generally less for the buckling problem than for flutter. For square plates, aligning the fibers with the direction of airflow over the plate surface results in the highest flutter dynamic pressure.

Sawyer, J. W.↗

A Mixed Multi-Field Finite Element Formulation for Thermopiezoelectric Composite Shells

Analytical formulations are presented which account for the coupled mechanical, electrical, and thermal response of piezoelectric composite shell structures. A new mixed multi-field laminate theory is developed which combines "single layer" assumptions for the displacements along with layerwise fields for the electric potential and temperature. This laminate theory is formulated using curvilinear coordinates and is based on the principles of linear thermopiezoelectricity. The mechanics have the inherent capability to explicitly model both the active and sensory responses of piezoelectric composite shells in thermal environment. Finite element equations are derived and implemented for an eight-noded shell element. Numerical studies are conducted to investigate both the sensory and active responses of piezoelectric composite shell structures subjected to thermal loads. Results for a cantilevered plate with an attached piezoelectric layer are com- pared with corresponding results from a commercial finite element code and a previously developed program. Additional studies are conducted on a cylindrical shell with an attached piezoelectric layer to demonstrate capabilities to achieve thermal shape control on curved piezoelectric structures.

Lee, Ho-Jun↗

The elastic layer with a cylindrical hole subjected to a nonuniform axisymmetric radial displacement.

A problem in the linear theory of elasticity is considered wherein a layer with a circular cylindrical hole is subjected to a nonuniform axisymmetric radial displacement. The solution utilizes Navier's equations of elasticity which are solved by means of extended Hankel transforms. A special case in which the radial displacement is a linear function of the axial coordinate is presented. Numerical results are given in graphical form for the case when hole radius and layer thickness are equal. The inversion integrals were evaluated numerically using Longman's technique for computing infinite integrals of oscillatory functions.

Grissom, D. S.↗

A fluid description of plasma double-layers

The space-charge double layer forming between two plasmas with different densities and thermal energies is described. The double layer is analyzed using fluid theory. The case of cold particles is treated. Thermal effects for the reflected particles and for the transmitted particles are considered. Emphasis is placed on finding a relationship between the magnitude of the potential step and the parameters characterizing the adjoining plasmas. Qualitative statements are made about the length of the double layer, and a characteristic length useful as a quantitative measure is defined and discussed.

Levine, J. S.↗