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Large controlled amounts of helium in uniform concentration in thick samples can be obtained through the radioactive decay of dissolved tritium gas to He3. The term, tritium trick, applies to the case when helium, added by this method, is used to simulate (n,alpha) production of helium in simulated hard flux radiation damage studies.
Alloys of Ni-20Cr, Ni-20Cr-3Mn, Ni-20Cr-3Si, and Ni-40Cr were cyclically oxidized at 1100 and 1200 C for up to 100 hours. Oxidation behavior was judged by sample thickness and weight change, metallography, diffraction, and microprobe analysis. The least attacked were Ni-40Cr and Ni-20Cr-3Si. The alloy Ni-20Cr-3Mn was much less attacked than Ni-20Cr, but more than the other alloys. The formation of Cr2O3 accounted for the increased resistance of Ni-Cr and Ni-20Cr-3Si, and the formation of MnCr2O4 accounts for the improvement in Ni-20Cr-3mn over Ni-20Cr.
A series of average transmission and average self-indication ratio measurements were performed in order to investigate the temperature dependence of the resonance self-shielding effect in the unresolved resonance region of depleted uranium and tantalum. The measurements were carried out at 77 K, 295 K and approximately 1000 K with sample thicknesses varying from approximately 0.1 to 1.0 mean free path. The average resonance parameters as well as the temperature dependence were determined by using an analytical model which directly integrates over the resonance parameter distribution functions.
The Cayley Plains at the Apollo 16 landing site consist of crudely stratified breccias to a depth of at least 200 meters, overlain by a regolith 10 to 15 meters thick. Samples, photographs, and observations by the astronauts indicate that most of the rocks are impact breccias derived from an anorthosite-gabbro complex. The least brecciated members of the suite include coarse-grained anorthosite and finer-grained, more mafic rocks, some with igneous and some with metamorphic textures. Much of the transverse area is covered by ejecta from North Ray and South Ray craters, but the abundance of rock fragments increases to the south toward the younger South Ray crater.
The photoelectric yields of 2000-A thick samples of MgF2 and LiF have been measured at wavelengths in the range from 1216 to 461 A. Peak values of 43 and 34%, respectively, were obtained at wavelengths around 550 A at 45 deg incidence. Coating the cathode of a channel electron multiplier with 3000 A of MgF2 produced no significant deterioration in the electrical properties and increased the sensitivity by factors of 1.62, 2.76, and 2.60 at wavelengths of 742, 584, and 461 A, respectively. Since the stability of response of the MgF2 photocathodes appears to be equal to that of conventional metallic and semiconducting cathodes, it is concluded that MgF2 would be a practical, high-efficiency photocathode for use in the extreme ultraviolet.
The feasibility of monitoring volatile contaminants in a large space simulation chamber using techniques of internal reflection spectroscopy was demonstrated analytically and experimentally. The infrared spectral region was selected as the operational spectral range in order to provide unique identification of the contaminants along with sufficient sensitivity to detect trace contaminant concentrations. It was determined theoretically that a monolayer of the contaminants could be detected and identified using optimized experimental procedures. This ability was verified experimentally. Procedures were developed to correct the attenuated total reflectance spectra for thick sample distortion. However, by using two different element designs the need for such correction can be avoided.
Twenty-five commercial nickel-, iron-, and cobalt-base sheet alloys incorporating chromium or chromium and aluminum additions for oxidation resistance were tested at 1150 C in air for 100 hr in both isothermal and 1-hr cyclic furnace exposures. The alloys were evaluated by sample specific weight change, by type of scale formed, by amount and type of spall, and by sample thickness change and microstructure.-
It was calculated that an FeBO3B2O3 glass-ceramic containing only 1 mole% FeBO3 would be equivalent for magnetooptic application to a YIG crystal of equal thickness. An Fe2O3B2O3 composition containing 2 mole% FeBO3 equivalent (98B) could be converted largely to a dense green, though opaque, FeBO3 glass-ceramic through suitable heat treatments. However, phase separation (and segregation) and Fe+3 reduction could not be entirely avoided with the various procedures that were employed. From light scattering calculations, it was estimated that about 100 A to allow 90% light transmission through a 1 cm thick sample. However, the actual FeBO3 crystallite sizes obtained in 98B were of the order of 1 micron or greater.
Vertical fractionation of a mixture of fixed horse and human red blood cells layered over a stabilizing support medium was done to give a valid comparison with proposed space experiments. In particular, the effects of sample thickness and concentration on zone migration rate were investigated. Electrophoretic mobilities of horse and human cells calculated from zone migration rates were compatible with those obtained by microelectrophoresis. Complete cell separation was observed when low power and effective cooling were employed.
System allows precise measurement of phase shift between two toneburst signals initially derived from same periodic source but delayed by different amounts through either path-length differences, propagation velocity differences, or both. Used to measure accurately phase shift encountered by acoustic wave striking front and back surfaces of sample. Velocity known, resulting measurement is of sample thickness. Thickness known, measurement is of sound velocity. Technique applies to many sources of radiation and not limited to acoustics.
Polarizing-microscope concept adapted for thick samples. Optical axis of crystal usually found by examining sample thinner than 1 mm between crossed polarizing plates. Frequently impractical to cut off small sample of crystal for testing, technique modified to accommodate large crystals. Ability to circumvent effect of birefringence has applications where laser beams must be transmitted through uniaxial crystals, as in laser diagnostics of contained flows in systems requiring windows for optical access.
Diffusion lengths and surface recombination velocities were measured in GaAs diodes and InP finished solar cells. The basic techniques used was charge collection microscopy also known as electron beam induced current (EBIC). The normalized currents and distances from the pn junction were read directly from the calibrated curves obtained while using the line scan mode in an SEM. These values were then equated to integral and infinite series expressions resulting from the solution of the diffusion equation with both extended generation and point generation functions. This expands previous work by examining both thin and thick samples. The surface recombination velocity was either treated as an unknown in a system of two equations, or measured directly using low e(-) beam accelerating voltages. These techniques give accurate results by accounting for the effects of surface recombination and the finite size of the generation volume.
Techniques employed to map the global distribution of stratospheric aerosols using SAGE II data at four wavelengths (385, 453, 525 and 1020 microns) are described. The methods were devised to integrate the 900 data points scanned by the instrument with account taken of the different times the vertical profiles were obtained. The data have been used to calculate the O3, H2O, NO2 and aerosol optical thicknesses. Sample details of data gathered during April 1985 are discussed, with emphasis on difficulties being encountered in analyzing the differences being observed in the dawn and dusk data.
Diffusion lengths and surface recombination velocities were measured in GaAs diodes and InP finished solar cells. The basic technique used was charge collection microscopy, also known as electron beam induced current (EBIC). The normalized currents and distances from the pn junction were read directly from the calibrated curves obtained while using the line-scan mode in an SEM. These values were then equated to integral and infinite series expressions resulting from the solution of the diffusion equation with both extended-generation and point-generation functions. This expands previous work by examining both thin and thick samples. The surface recombination velocity was either treated as an unknown in a system of two equations or measured directly using low e(-) beam accelerating voltages. These techniques give accurate results by accounting for the effects of surface recombination and the finite size of the generation volume.
A fiber push-out technique applied at several sample thicknesses was used to determine both the debond shear stress and the frictional shear stress at the fiber-matrix interface at room temperautre for a unidirectional SiC fiber-reinforced T-24Al-11Nb (in at. pct) composite prepared by a powder cloth technique. The push-out technique measures the separate contributions of bond strength and friction to the mechanical shear strength at the fiber-matrix interface. It was found that the fiber-matrix bond shear strength of this material is significantly higher than the fiber-matrix frictional shear stress (119.2 and 47.8 MPa, respectively).
A nondestructive technique for measuring the birefringence of optical materials such as calcite using wedged plate interferometer is presented. The sample needed for measuring the refractive index must be polished in the form of a parallel plate. The method is based on the measurement of the longitudinal displacement of the focus when the parallel plate is inserted in a converging beam of light. The displacement of the focus is a measure of the refractive index of the optical material. In the case of a uniaxial crystal, the displacement of the focus for the extraordinary ray is different from the displacement of the focus for the ordinary ray. Hence the birefringence of the crystal is determined by measuring the difference between the two focii. It is possible to obtain an accuracy up to 0.0002 in the measurement of birefringence depending on the sample thickness. The method should find its application for the characterization of new crystals in various material research and crystal growth laboratories.
Consideration is given to a thermal inspection system for quickly inspecting large area composites for increased reliability and maintainability of helicopters resulting from improved quality assurance manufacturing. The infrared camera/image processor-based inspection system was used to image defects in composites. Noncontacting and single-sided measurements were performed on graphite/epoxy samples with fiber volume fraction variations, fabricated porosity, impact damage, and inclusions in incurred lay ups. These defects were imaged by determining the variations in the cooling rates caused by differences in through ply thermal diffusivity. Attention is also given to the system's sensitivity to measuring the defects due to sample thickness.
Striations in Czochralski (CZ) grown crystals have been observed in materials such as GaAs, silicon, photorefractive crystals used for data storage, potassium titanyl phosphate crystals and LiNbO3. Several techniques have been used for investigating these defects including electron microscopy, laser scanning tomography, selective photoetching, X-ray diffuse scattering, interference orthoscopy, laser interferometry and micro-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy mapping. A 2mm thick sample of the material to be investigated is illuminated with light that is absorbed and non-absorbed by the ion concentration to be observed. The back surface of the sample is focused onto a solid-state image detector and images of the input beam and absorbed (and diffracted) beams are captured at two wavelengths. The variation of the coefficient of absorption asa function of distance on the sample can be derived from these measurements. A Big Sky Software Beamcode system is used to capture and display images. Software has been written to convert the Beamcode data files to a format that can be imported into a spreadsheet program such as Quatro Pro. The spreadsheet is then used to manipulate and display data. A model of the intensity map of the striae collected by the imaging system has been proposed and a data analysis procedure derived. From this, the variability of the attenuation coefficient alpha can be generated. Preliminary results show that alpha may vary by a factor of four or five over distances of 100 mu m. Potential errors and problems have been discovered and additional experiments and improvements to the experimental setup are in progress and we must now show that the measurement techniques and data analysis procedures provide 'real' information. Striae are clearly visible at all wavelengths including white light. Their basic spatial frequency does not change radically, at least when changing from blue to green to white light. Further experimental and theoretical work can be done to improve the data collection techniques and to verify the data analysis procedures.