Search NASA⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search NASA

Results for “zone plates”

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.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 109 records · Page 6

Element-specific first order reversal curves measured by magnetic transmission x-ray microscopy

The first-order reversal curve (FORC) method is a macroscopic measurement technique that can be used to extract quantitative and microscopic properties of hysteretic systems. Using magnetic transmission x-ray microscopy (MTXM), local element-specific FORC measurements are performed on a 20 nm thick film of CoTb. The FORCs measured with microscopy reveal a step-by-step domain evolution under the magnetic field cycling protocol and provide a direct visualization of the mechanistic interpretation of FORC diagrams. They are compared with magnetometry FORCs and show good quantitative agreement. Furthermore, the high spatial resolution and element-specific sensitivity of MTXM provide new capabilities to measure FORCs in small regions or specific phases within multicomponent systems, including buried layers in heterostructures. The ability to perform FORCs on very small features is demonstrated with the MTXM-FORC measurement of a rectangular microstructure with vortex-like Landau structures. This work demonstrates the confluence of two uniquely powerful techniques to achieve quantitative insight into nanoscale magnetic behavior.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

A platform to measure isentropes from proton-heated warm dense matter on short pulse laser facilities

We describe the development of an experimental platform that measures the release isentrope of materials heated isochorically to temperatures of a few electron volts, using short-pulse laser-produced protons to heat the sample and long-pulse laser-produced x rays to perform streaked x-ray radiography. The density profiles derived from the radiography data are integrated to generate pressure–density isentropes, independent of prior knowledge of the equation of state of the sample material. In order to understand the sensitivities of isentrope extraction from radiography data, we analyze synthetic radiographs generated by a radiation hydrodynamics code. Noise reduction and high spatial resolution are critical for isentrope reconstruction, as demonstrated by the analysis of a proof-of-principle shot day on the OMEGA-EP facility. In conclusion, the data demonstrate the feasibility of the platform for characterizing isentropes, and we discuss the necessary improvements to enhance precision in differentiating between equation-of-state models.

Equations of state↗

PARTICIPATION OF THE SOLID PHASE IN THE OSCILLATORY BURNING OF SOLID ROCKET PROPELLANTS

An experimental study of the interaction between the solid and gas phases during oscillatory burning of solid propellants has been undertaken with the objective of exploring the validity of the complex theory describing the phenomenon. The apparatus employed was a side-vented, cylindrical vessel with an end-burning propellant grain closely fitted in one end and provision for maintaining the burning zone at a fixed position. Pressure oscillations both at the gas-zone end plate and beneath the grain were recorded. Energy dissipation in the solid propellant, isolated from other losses in the system, was determined from the growth rate constants of the amplitudes of pressure oscillation for grains of varying lengths. The efficiency of acoustical energy or absorption by the grain was found to be maximum when the oscillations are at frequencies close to the natural frequency of the grain. These results confirm the description of oscillatory burning by the acoustical theory in its broad generalizations.

GAS PHASE↗

Development of pull-apart basins

The development of pull-apart basins is discussed based on results of field studies in active and ancient strike-slip zones. The plate tectonic setting of active pull-aparts is described and field observations from mainly active basins are synthesized into a qualitative model of the continuous growth of pull-aparts from nucleation to extreme development. This model is compared with predictions from previously proposed qualitative, theoretical, and experimental models.

Mann, P.↗

The growth of continents and some consequences since 1.5 Ga

The budget of Earth's oceanic sediment masses was discussed in terms of crustal growth and recycling. Based on estimates of the volume of oceanic sediments and the average age of oceanic crust, a continental denudation rate of 1.65 cu km/yr was computed. This crudely balances estimated crustal production rates of about 1 cu km/yr, but the efficiency of sediment loss via subduction, for example, must be considered. It was argued, on the basis of earthquake focal solutions, imagery of subduction zones, and plate kinematic reconstructions that little, if any, sediment was lost in this way. This yields a present day crustal growth rate of about 1 cu km/yr. The volume of continents to 1.5 Ga ago was discussed, assuming constant continental thickness and freeboard, and a constant hydrosphere volume. It was concluded that ocean ridge length was a factor of about 1.75 greater 1.5 Ga ago, but a major uncertainty is the average spreading rate in the past.

Howell, David G.↗

Beyond plate tectonics - Looking at plate deformation with space geodesy

The requirements that must be met by space-geodetic systems in order to constrain the horizontal secular motions associated with the geological deformation of the earth's surface are explored. It is suggested that in order to improve existing plate-motion models, the tangential components of relative velocities on interplate baselines must be resolved to an accuracy of less than 3 mm/yr. Results indicate that measuring the velocities between crustal blocks to + or - 5 mm/yr on 100-km to 1000-km scales can produce geologically significant constraints on the integrated deformation rates across continental plate-boundary zones such as the western United States.

Jordan, Thomas H.↗

Development of a Real-Time GPS/Seismic Displacement Meter: Applications to Civilian Infrastructure in Orange and Western Riverside Counties, California

We propose a three-year applications project that will develop an Integrated Real-Time GPS/Seismic System and deploy it in Orange and Western Riverside Counties, spanning three major strike-slip faults in southern California (San Andreas, San Jacinto, and Elsinore) and significant populations and civilian infrastructure. The system relying on existing GPS and seismic networks will collect and analyze GPS and seismic data for the purpose of estimating and disseminating real-time positions and total ground displacements (dynamic, as well as static) during all phases of the seismic cycle, from fractions of seconds to years. Besides its intrinsic scientific use as a real-time displacement meter (transducer), the GPS/Seismic System will be a powerful tool for local and state decision makers for risk mitigation, disaster management, and structural monitoring (dams, bridges, and buildings). Furthermore, the GPS/Seismic System will become an integral part of California's spatial referencing and positioning infrastructure, which is complicated by tectonic motion, seismic displacements, and land subsidence. Finally, the GPS/Seismic system will also be applicable to navigation in any environment (land, sea, or air) by combining precise real-time instantaneous GPS positioning with inertial navigation systems. This development will take place under the umbrella of the California Spatial Reference Center, in partnership with local (Counties, Riverside County Flood and Water Conservation District, Metropolitan Water District), state (Caltrans), and Federal agencies (NGS, NASA, USGS), the geophysics community (SCIGN/SCEC2), and the private sector (RBF Consulting). The project will leverage considerable funding, resources, and R&D from SCIGN, CSRC and two NSF-funded IT projects at UCSD and SDSU: RoadNet (Real-Time Observatories, Applications and Data Management Network) and the High Performance Wireless Research and Education Network (HPWREN). These two projects are funded to develop both the wireless networks and the integrated, seamless, and transparent information management system that will deliver seismic, geodetic, oceanographic, hydrological, ecological, and physical data to a variety of end users in real-time in the San Diego region. CSRC is interested in providing users access to real-time, accurate GPS data for a wide variety of applications including RTK surveying/GIS and positioning of moving platforms such as aircraft and emergency vehicles. SCIGN is interested in upgrading sites to high-frequency real-time operations for rapid earthquake response and GPS seismology. The successful outcome of the project will allow the implementation of similar systems elsewhere, particularly in plate boundary zones with significant populations and civilian infrastructure. CSRC would like to deploy the GPS/Seismic System in other parts of California, in particular San Diego, Los Angeles County and the San Francisco Bay Area.

Bock, Yehuda↗

Ice Mass Fluctuations and Earthquake Hazard

In south central Alaska, tectonic strain rates are high in a region that includes large glaciers undergoing ice wastage over the last 100-150 years [Sauber et al., 2000; Sauber and Molnia, 2004]. In this study we focus on the region referred to as the Yakataga segment of the Pacific-North American plate boundary zone in Alaska. In this region, the Bering and Malaspina glacier ablation zones have average ice elevation decreases from 1-3 meters/year (see summary and references in Molnia, 2005). The elastic response of the solid Earth to this ice mass decrease alone would cause several mm/yr of horizontal motion and uplift rates of up to 10-12 mm/yr. In this same region observed horizontal rates of tectonic deformation range from 10 to 40 mm/yr to the north-northwest and the predicted tectonic uplift rates range from -2 mm/year near the Gulf of Alaska coast to 12mm/year further inland [Savage and Lisowski, 1988; Ma et al, 1990; Sauber et al., 1997, 2000, 2004; Elliot et al., 2005]. The large ice mass changes associated with glacial wastage and surges perturb the tectonic rate of deformation at a variety of temporal and spatial scales. The associated incremental stress change may enhance or inhibit earthquake occurrence. We report recent (seasonal to decadal) ice elevation changes derived from data from NASA's ICESat satellite laser altimeter combined with earlier DEM's as a reference surface to illustrate the characteristics of short-term ice elevation changes [Sauber et al., 2005, Muskett et al., 2005]. Since we are interested in evaluating the effect of ice changes on faulting potential, we calculated the predicted surface displacement changes and incremental stresses over a specified time interval and calculated the change in the fault stability margin using the approach given by Wu and Hasegawa [1996]. Additionally, we explored the possibility that these ice mass fluctuations altered the seismic rate of background seismicity. Although we primarily focus on evaluating the influence of ice mass changes since the end of the little Ice Age, the study is partially motivated by paleoseismic evidence from Yakataga and Kodiak regions which suggests that earlier glacier retreat may be associated with large earthquakes [Sauber et al., 2000; Carver et al., 2003].

Sauber, J.↗

Effect of a shallow low-viscosity zone on small-scale instabilities under the cooling oceanic plates

The effects of a low-viscosity zone in the uppermost mantle on instabilities in the cooling oceanic plates are discussed. The viscosity structure in the upper mantle is approximated by three layers consisting of a conducting lid overlying the low-viscosity zone, which in turn overlies a constant viscosity layer extending to the base of the upper mantle. It is found that this model can reproduce both the small-scale undulations and the flattening of the depth-age and heat flow-age curves.

Robinson, Elisabeth M.↗

Thermal regimes in the detachment fault environment as deduced from fluid inclusions

Extensional tectonism, which dominates middle- and late-Tertiary geology in western Arizona, southeastern California, and southern Nevada, is characterized by normal regionally extensive, low-angle detachment faults. The decollement movement of Fupper plate rocks relative to lower plate assemblages created extensive zones of dilatency, including synthetic and antithetic listric normal faults, tear faults, tectonic crush breccias, shatter breccias, and gash veins in lithologic units above and below the detachment. The tectonically enhanced permeability above and below the detachment fault permitted mass migration of large volumes of hydrothermal solutions along the fault zone during and following upper plate movement. Major quantities of MgO, CaO, K2O, FeO/Fe2O3, SiO2 and CO2 were added to rocks in and near the detachment and related structures. Also introduced were varying amounts of trace elements including Mn, Cu, S, Mo, Ba, Au, Pb, Zn, U and/or Ag. Minerals containing fluid incusions were collected from all of these loci at locations in detachment faulted terranes in western Arizona and southeastern California.

Beane, R. E.↗

Potentially active volcanoes of Peru - Observations using Landsat Thematic Mapper and Space Shuttle imagery

A synoptic study of the volcanoes of southern Peru (14-17 deg S), the northernmost part of the Central Volcanic Zone (CVZ 14-28 deg S) of the Andes, was conducted on the basis of Landsat TM images and color photography. The volcanoes were classified and their relative ages determined using subtle glacial-morphological features. Eight of them were postulated as potentially active. These are located in a narrow volcanic zone which probably reflects a steep dip of the Nazca plate through the zone of magma generation. The break in the trend of the volcanic arc possibly reflects the complexity of the crustal stress field above a major segment boundary in the subducting plate. There are also fields of mafic monogenetic centers in this region. In comparison with the southern part of the CVZ, the general paucity of older volcanic edifices north of 17 deg S suggested a more recent onset of volcanism, a possible result of the oblique subduction of the Nazca ridge and the consequent northward migration of its intersection with the Peru-Chile trench. This, together with the lack of any large silicic caldera systems and youthful dacite domes, suggested that there are real differences in the volcanic evolution of the two parts of the CVZ.

De Silva, S. L.↗

Skylab photography applied to geologic mapping in northwestern Central America

Two photolineation maps of southwestern Guatemala and Chiapas were made from S190 photographs along a ground track from Acajutla, El Salvador to San Cristobal de las Casas, Mexico. The maps document a structural complexity spanning the presumed triple junction of the Cocos, Americas, and Caribbean plates. The Polochic fault zone, supposedly the Americas-Caribbean plate boundary, is a sharply delineated feature across western Guatemala. Westward of the Mexican border it splays into a large number of faults with NW to SW trends. The structural pattern is quite different to the north (Americas plate) and to the south (Caribbean plate) of the Polochic fault, though both areas are dominated by NW-trending lineations. Within the Central American volcanic chain, the lineation patterns support the segmented model of the Benioff Zone, by showing a concentration of transverse lineations in the predicted locations, most notably NE-trending elements near Quezaltenango, Guatemala. The structural pattern obtained from the maps are compared to patterns described on recently published maps of more southerly parts of Central America, to begin a synthesis of the structure of the convergent plate boundary.

Rose, W. I., Jr.↗

Regional Geologic Cross Sections for Potential Storage and Containment Zones in the MRCSP Region [plus Plates 1-6]

The regional characterization work conducted by the Geoteams during the MRCSP Phase III project period (2010 –2019) focused on the following tasks: (1) refinement of geologic seals/reservoir systems; (2) assessment of Atlantic Coastal Plain and offshore opportunities; (3) expanded assessments of oil and gas fields, particularly as they relate to enhanced recovery opportunities; (4) regional support for implementation of carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS) in the partnership area; and (5) communication and data sharing. This report, entitled Regional Geology, has been prepared in association with (4), regional support for implementation of CCUS in the partnership area..

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Coherent tilt signals observed in the Shumagin seismic gap Detection of time-dependent subduction at depth?

Repeated surveys of short level lines in the Shumagin Islands, Alaska, reveal coherent tilt signals associated with subduction of the Pacific plate beneath the North American plate in the Shumagin seismic gap. Ten years of steady tilt down toward the trench is interrupted during 1978-1980 by a rapid episode of reverse tilt. The 'normal' tilt represents surface deformation as subduction occurs, with the plate boundary locked to at least 60 km depth. Using all available tilt, sea level, and seismic data, the tilt reversal is interpreted as due to an episodic reverse slip of about 80 cm magnitude on the plate boundary between about 70 km and 20 km depth, downdip from the main seismogenic zone, which remains locked. This event causes an increase of stress on the locked main thrust zone. It is speculated that such events may be a regular process at subduction zones, that great plate boundary earthquakes may be more common during their occurrence, and that their onset may be detectable early enough to give warning of an increase in probability for the occurrence of a great earthquake.

Beavan, J.↗

HCMM: Soil moisture in relation to geologic structure and lithology, northern California

The author has identified the following significant results. First-look qualitative geologic evaluation of day- and night-IR images discloses several en echelon linear features extending throughout the central part of the northern coast range in California, across the Mendocino triple junction and into southern Oregon. Preliminary examination of these features with respect to topographic expression, vegetation, sun angle and azimuth, and atmospheric conditions suggests that they may be related to the intracontinental plate boundary (Lake Mountain Fault zone of Herd) of the Humbolt Plate. The linear features, which cut across several climatic zones and differently vegetated regions are not confined to topographic valleys, but cross the ridges and valleys at varying angles. Lithology within the Great Valley Sequence can be detected on a few of the images; however, preliminary evaluation suggests that the thermal banding observed may be a function of sun azimuth or late-day sun angle. Soil moisture, related to lithologic composition cannot be ruled out at this time.

Rich, E. I.↗

Reduction of astrographic catalogues

An automatic program for the reduction of overlapping Carte du Ciel plates is described. The projection and transformation equations are given and the RAA subprogram flow is outlined. The program was applied to two different sets of data, namely to nine overlapping plates of the Cape Zone of the CdC, and to fifteen plates taken with the CIDA-refractor of the open cluster Tr10.

Stock, J.↗

Flexural deformation of the continental lithosphere

Prior work focused primarily on the Adriatic and northern Ionian regions. The results of these studies have been summarized previously, and so are only briefly discussed. More recent work focuses on two different topics: (1) analysis of foredeep basin geometry, sedimentary style, and thrust belt structure in light of the kinematics at the associated plate boundary and subduction zone dynamics; and (2) the evolution and plate strength of early Proterozoic lithosphere.

Source record↗