Research in particles and fields
Cosmic ray research and particle and field theory in space are examined. Data also cover experiments designed especially for spacecraft. An extensive bibliography is included.
Vogt, R. E.↗
SEARCH · Search NASA
Results for “FIELD THEORY”
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.
Duct liner optimization for turbomachinery noise sources
An acoustical field theory for axisymmetric, multisectioned lined ducts with uniform flow profiles was combined with a numerical minimization algorithm to predict optimal liner configurations having one, two, and three sections. Source models studied include a point source located on the axis of the duct and rotor/outlet-stator viscous wake interaction effects for a typical research compressor operating at an axial flow Mach number of about 0.4. For this latter source, optimal liners for equipartition-of energy, zero-phase, and least-attenuated-mode source variations were also calculated and compared with exact results. It is found that the potential benefits of liner segmentation for the attenuation of turbomachinery noise is greater than would be predicted from point source results. Furthermore, effective liner design requires precise knowledge of the circumferential and radial modal distributions.
Lester, H. C.↗
High voltage design guide for airborne equipment
The report supplies the theoretical background and design techniques needed by an engineer who is designing electrical insulation for high-voltage high-power components, equipment, and systems on aircraft. A literature survey and abundant bibliography identify references that provide further data on the subjects of partial discharges, corona, field theory and plotting, voids and processes for applying insulation. Both gaseous and solid insulations are treated. Cryogenic and liquid design notes are included. Tests and test equipment for high voltage insulation and equipment are defined. Requirements of test plans and procedures for high-voltage high-power equipment are identified and illustrated by examples. Suggestions for high-voltage specifications are provided. Very few of the Military and Government specifications deal with system voltages above 10kv, thus most aircraft high-voltage specifications will have to be derived from the power industry specifications and standards produced by ASTM, IEEE, and NEMA.
W G Dunbar↗
Asymptotic freedom in the early big-bang and the isotropy of the cosmic microwave background
The isotropy of the universal 3K background radiation is discussed and a superunified field theory incorporating gravity and possessing asymptotic freedom is suggested to provide a solution to the problem. Thermal equilibrium is established in this context through interactions occurring in a temporally indefinite preplanckian era.
Stecker, F. W.↗
Coupled wave model for large magnet coils
A wave coupled model based on field theory is evolved for analysis of fast electromagnetic transients on superconducting coils. It is expected to play a useful role in the design of protection methods against damage due to high voltages or any adverse effects that might arise from unintentional transients. The significant parameters of the coil are identified to be the turn to turn wave coupling coefficients and the travel time of an electromagnetic disturbance around a single turn. Unlike circuit theoretic inductor, the coil response evolves in discrete steps having durations equal to this travel time. It is during such intervals that high voltages are likely to occur. The model also bridges the gap between the low and high ends of the frequency spectrum.
Gabriel, G. J.↗
Asymptotic freedom in the early big bang and the isotropy of the cosmic microwave background
It is suggested that a superunified field theory incorporating gravity and possessing asymptotic freedom could provide a solution to the problem of the isotropy of the universal 3 K background radiation. Thermal equilibrium could be established in this context through interactions occurring in a temporally indefinite pre-Planckian era.
Stecker, F. W.↗
Spherical harmonic representation of the main geomagnetic field for world charting and investigations of some fundamental problems of physics and geophysics
Quiet-day data from MAGSAT were examined for effects which might test the validity of Maxwell's equations. Both external and toroidal fields which might represent a violation of the equations appear to exist, well within the associated errors. The external field might be associated with the ring current, and varies of a time-scale of one day or less. Its orientation is parallel to the geomagnetic dipole. The toriodal field can be confused with an orientation in error (in yaw). It the toroidal field really exists, its can be related to either ionospheric currents, or to toroidal fields in the Earth's core in accordance with Einstein's unified field theory, or to both.
Barraclough, D. R.↗
The need for an intermediate mass scale in GUTs
The minimal SU(5) grand unified field theory (GUT) model fails to resolve the strong charge parity (CP) problem, suffers from the cosmological monopole problem, sheds no light on the nature of the 'dark' mass in the universe, and predicts an unacceptably low value for the baryon asymmetry. All these problems can be overcome in suitable grand unified axion models with an intermediate mass scale of about 10 to the 11th power to 10 to the 12th power GeV. An example based on the gauge group SO(10) is presented. Among other things, it predicts that the axions comprise the 'dark' mass in the universe, and that there exists a galactic monopole flux of 10 to the -8th power to 10 to the -7th power/sq cm/yr. Other topics that are briefly discussed include proton decay, family symmetry, neutrino masses and the gauge hierarchy problem.
Shafi, Q.↗
High voltage design guide. Volume 4: Aircraft
This report supplies the theoretical background and design techniques needed by an engineer who is designing electrical insulation for high-voltage, high-power components, equipment, and systems for aircraft. A literature survey and abundant bibliography identify references that provide further data on the subjects of partial discharges, corona, field theory and plotting, voids and processes for applying insulation. Both gaseous and solid insulations are treated. Cryogenic and liquid design notes are included. Tests and test equipment for high voltage insulation and equipment are defined. Requirements of test plans and procedures for high-voltage, high-power equipment are identified and illustrated by examples. Suggestions for high-voltage specifications are provided. Very few of the Military and Government specifications deal with system voltages above 10kV, thus most aircraft high-voltage specifications will have to be derived from the power industry specifications and standards produced by ASTM, IEEE, and NEMA.
W G Dunbar↗
The effect of oceanic whitecaps and foams on pulse-limited radar altimeters
Based on electromagnetic field theory of stratified media, the microwave reflectivity of a sea surface covered by whitecaps and foams at 13.9 GHz was computed. The computed results show that the reflectivity declines with increasing thickness of foams. The reflectivity of the sea surface without any whitecaps or foams is 0.6066 (20 C, S:35 per thousand), but it will be less than 0.15 when the thickness of foam cover is more than 0.3 cm. While gathering the data of whitecap and foam coverage in situ and reviewing whitecapping models, it can be shown that the effect of oceanic whitecaps and foams on the measured results of a pulse-limited radar altimeter working at high frequencies will not be negligible in high sea state conditions.
Zheng, Q. A.↗
Quantum/classical mode evolution in free electron laser oscillators
The problem of oscillator evolution and mode competition in free electron lasers is studied. Relativistic quantum field theory is used to calculate electron wave functions, the angular distribution of spontaneous emission, and the transition rates for stimulated emission and absorption in each mode. The photon rate equation for the weakfield regime is presented. This rate equation is applied to oscillator evolution with a conventional undulator, a two-stage optical klystron, and a tapered undulator. The effects of noise are briefly discussed.
Bosco, P.↗
Questions on universal constants and four-dimensional symmetry from a broad viewpoint. I
It is demonstrated that there is a flexibility in clock synchronizations and that four-dimensional symmetry framework can be viewed broadly. The true universality of basic constants is discussed, considering a class of measurement processes based on the velocity = distance/time interval, which always yields some number when used by an observer. The four-dimensional symmetry framework based on common time for all observers is formulated, and related processes of measuring light speed are discussed. Invariant 'action functions' for physical laws in the new four-dimensional symmetry framework with the common time are established to discuss universal constants. Truly universal constants are demonstrated, and it is shown that physics in this new framework and in special relativity are equivalent as far as one-particle systems and the S-matrix in field theories are concerned.
Hsu, J. P.↗
Future Directions of Research in Adhesion and Friction. Status of Understanding
Four main classes of materials are covered: metals, ceramics, elastomers and polymers. In dealing with adhesion a distinction is drawn between adhesion (which often involves thermodynamic concepts) and the observed adhesive strength, here designated as the pull-off force. With metals the level of understanding of the interfacial bond is well understood theoretically and was elegantly studied experimentally. However the role of surface roughness and especially ductility needs to be incorporated into an overall view of metallic adhesion. The effect of contaminant films has not gone far beyond purely descriptive language. The friction of metals is understood in terms of surface topography, adhesion and deformation and there are now promising solutions using slipline-field theory. These do not however, cope very satisfactorily with work hardening. For surfaces sliding at higher speeds there are now good models which deal with asperity instabilities produced by frictional heating.
Tabor, D.↗
Mineralogical-petrological characterization of near-earth asteroids
The mineralogy and petrology of 17 near-earth asteroids are characterized using reflectance spectroscopy with ground-based telescopes. Assuming the surfaces are composed of cosmically abundant materials, the presence of certain mineralogical species can be determined from diagnostic absorption features and spectral characteristics which have been studied under known laboratory conditions and understood in terms of crystal-field theory. With one possible exception, the surface composition of near-earth asteroids consists of common rock-forming minerals such as olivine, pyroxene, and phyllosilicates. Opaque components are present but cannot be mineralogically identified with existing experimental data. The spectrum of 2201 Oljato cannot be interpreted in terms of common rock-forming minerals and is examined for cometary features because its high orbital eccentricity suggests a possible relation to comets, but no common cometary features are identified. The predominance of mafic silicate absorption features in spectra of near-earth asteroids (compared to the majority of main-belt asteroids) may be a primary compositional feature or may be the signature of relatively fresher asteroid material.
Mcfadden, L. A.↗
Magnetic probing of the solar interior
The magnetic field patterns in the region beneath the solar photosphere is determined. An approximate method for downward extrapolation of line of sight magnetic field measurements taken at the solar photosphere was developed. It utilizes the mean field theory of electromagnetism in a form thought to be appropriate for the solar convection zone. A way to test that theory is proposed. The straightforward application of the lowest order theory with the complete model fit to these data does not indicate the existence of any reasonable depth at which flux conservation is achieved.
Benton, E. R.↗
On total cross sections and slopes at superhigh energies
Hadron-hadron and hadron-nucleus interactions are investigated in the framework of the Reggeon field theory with critical and supercritical pomerons and multiple scattering theory. A good agreement is obtained with experimental data on cross sections of proton-proton and proton-nucleus interactions at high energies.
Yeremian, S. S.↗
Interfacial tension of fluids near critical points and two-scale-factor universality
Measurements of interfacial tension in the critical region of a wide variety of fluids are reviewed. The data are analyzed using theoretical values of the critical exponents to obtain amplitude ratios. Many of the data are consistent within a few percent of sigma(0). Comparison of these amplitude ratios with ratios from a field-theory calculation and from a simulation suggests that the theoretical values are about half the experimental ones. Systematic errors which are the source of this discrepancy are discussed. The data sources and processing procedures of this study are also discussed, pointing out that for liquid-vapor systems the capillary length often has a remarkably simple temperature dependence.
Moldover, M. R.↗
Adiabaticity and viscosity in deep mantle convection
A study has been conducted of steady convection with adiabatic and viscous heating for variable viscosity in the Boussinesq limit using the mean-field theory. A strong nonlinear coupling is found between the thermodynamic constants governing adiabatic heating and the rheological parameters. The range of rheological values for which adiabaticity would occur throughout the mantle has been established. Too large an activation volume, greater than 6 cu cm/mol for the cases examined, would produce unreasonably high temperature at the bottom of the mantle (greater than 6000 K) and superadiabatic gradients, especially in the lower mantle. Radiogenic heating plays a profound role in controlling dynamically mantle temperatures. Present values for the averaged mantle heat production would yield objectionably high temperatures in the lower mantle.
Quareni, F.↗