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Results for “MEASURING APPARATUS”

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.

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At least 145 records · Page 8
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1972

Determining gas temperatures from laser scattering.

Lidar techniques may be applicable to inelastic, Raman scattering. When a light beam interacts with gas molecules, the energies of scattered photons may be increased or decreased relative to the incident photons. The Raman return signal can theoretically yield information on gas pressure, temperature, and molecular species concentration. The temperature can be calculated from the measurement of two scattered Raman rotational line intensities. Questions of measurement accuracy, line selection, and multiple line ratios are considered. The measurement apparatus is discussed together with the measurement techniques.

Salzman, J. A.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Method and apparatus for remote measurement of terrestrial biomass

Method and apparatus for remote measurement of terrestrial biomass contained in vegetative elements, such as large tree boles or trunks present in an area of interest. The method includes providing an airborne radar system, overflying the area of interest while directing radar energy having a frequency of under 400 MHz, and preferably between 80 and 120 MHz, toward the area of interest, using the radar system to collect backscatter data from the radar energy as a function of incidence angle and frequency, and using an inversion algorithm to determine a magnitude of the biomass from the backscatter data for each radar resolution cell. A biomass map is generated showing the magnitude of the biomass of the vegetative elements as a function of location on the map by using each resolution cell as a unique location thereon.

Johnson, Patrick W.↗
NASA NTRS2018

Developing a Novel Platform for Characterizing Thermoelectric Materials for Uncooled Detectors for Land Imaging Applications

Thermal land imaging (imaging at ~8-14 micron optical wavelength) is an essential tool for understanding and managing terrestrial freshwater resources. Current thermal imaging instruments employ low temperature detectors, which require cryocoolers. Consequently, cost-saving reductions in size, weight, and power can be achieved by employing uncooled detectors. One uncooled detector concept, which NASA is pursuing, is a thermopile detector with sub-micron thick doped-Si thermoelectric materials. In order to characterize the thermoelectric properties of the doped silicon, we designed and optimized a novel apparatus. This simple apparatus measures the Seebeck coefficient with thermally isolated stages and LABVIEW automation. We optimized thermal stability using PID tuning and optimized the thermal contact between the thin film samples and stages using electrically conductive springs. Utilizing our apparatus, we measured the Seebeck coefficient of 0.45 micron thick phosphorus-doped single crystal Si samples bonded to alumina substrates. Using these Seebeck coefficient measurements and four-wire electrical resistivity measurements, we determined the relationship between the thermoelectric figure of merit and dopant concentration. These characterization results for doped-Si will guide our thermopile detector design to provide an optimal and competitive detector alternative for future thermal imaging instruments.

Reid, Riley A.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Technology for satellite power conversion

The dipole pattern of the antenna was confirmed and work on the MOM diode began. The antenna - detector structure was modified and the measurement apparatus reconfigured to permit precise antenna pattern measurements. Fabrication of the MOM diode was initiated after antenna action from the new structures was observed. A refined antenna structure was developed. The previous antenna design allowed currents induced by the incident radiation in the bonding wires to flow through the bolometer. The detector was thus responding to both the antenna and bonding wire currents. A low pass filter was added to the antenna structure to improve the detection scheme. The new design uses an interdigitated capacitor to prevent the induced current in the bonding wires from flowing through the detection element.

Gouker, M. A.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Measurement of the thermal conductivity of composites using heat flow sensors

A thermal conductivity measuring apparatus that uses heat flow sensors to measure the heat flux through samples was constructed of inexpensive materials. This device was used to measure the thermal conductivity (k) of two composites used in the space program that consist of fibrous or granular components embedded in a resin matrix. The k-values that were determined ranged from 0.035 to 0.059 Btu/h sq ft-F/ft (-163 to 553 F) and 0.029 to 0.035 Btu/h-sq ft-F/ft (77 to 212 F). Thermal conductivity values of the composites conformed to the rule of mixture. The accuracy of the system was found to be comparable to the guarded hotplate and it requires neither a skilled operator nor extensive maintenance.

Penn, B. G.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Electron-Photon Coincidence Calibration Of Photon Detectors

Absolute and relative detector efficiencies measured. Apparatus uses coincidence-counting techniques to measure efficiency of ultraviolet or vacuum ultraviolet detector at very low radiation intensity. Crossed electron and atomic beams generate photons used to calibrate photon detector. Pulses from electron counter and photon detector(s) processed by standard coincidence-counting techniques. Used to calibrate other detectors or make absolute measurements of incident photon fluxes.

Srivastava, Santosh K.↗
NASA NTRS1992

On the measurement of time for the quantum harmonic oscillator

A generalization of previous treatments of quantum phase is presented. Restrictions on the class of realizable phase statistics are thereby removed; thus, permitting 'phase wavefunction collapse' (and other advantages). This is accomplished by exciting the auxiliary mode of the measurement apparatus in a time-reversed fashion. The mathematical properties of this auxiliary mode are studied in the hope that they will lead to an identification of a physical apparatus which can realize the quantum phase measurement.

Shepard, Scott R.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Improved Measurement of Dispersion in an Optical Fiber

An improved method of measuring chromatic dispersion in an optical fiber or other device affords a lower (relative to prior such methods) limit of measurable dispersion. This method is a modified version of the amplitude-modulation (AM) method, which is one of the prior methods. In comparison with the other prior methods, the AM method is less complex. However, the AM method is limited to dispersion levels . 160 ps/nm and cannot be used to measure the symbol of the dispersion. In contrast, the present modified version of the AM method can be used to measure the symbol of the symbol of the dispersion and affords a measurement range from about 2 ps/nm to several thousand ps/nm with a resolution of 0.27 ps/nm or finer. The figure schematically depicts the measurement apparatus. The source of light for the measurement is a laser, the wavelength of which is monitored by an optical spectrum analyzer. A light-component analyzer amplitude-modulates the light with a scanning radio-frequency signal. The modulated light is passed through a buffer (described below) and through the device under test (e.g., an optical fiber, the dispersion of which one seeks to measure), then back to the light-component analyzer for spectrum analysis. Dispersion in the device under test gives rise to phase shifts among the carrier and the upper and lower sideband components of the modulated signal. These phase shifts affect the modulation-frequency component of the output of a photodetector exposed to the signal that emerges from the device under test. One of the effects is that this component goes to zero periodically as the modulation frequency is varied.

Huang, Shouhua↗
NASA NTRS1995

Measuring Work Functions Of "Dirty" Surfaces With A Vibrating Capacitive Probe

Apparatus measures work function of possibly contaminated surface of specimen of metal or other electrically conductive material. Measures work function of specimen indirectly, by vibrating capacitive measurement of contact potential. Work function of specimen affected by microstructure and by contamination.

Yost, William T.↗