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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 163 records · Page 9

Plasma deposition of amorphous hydrogenated carbon films on III-V semiconductors

Amorphous hydrogenated carbon films were grown on GaAs, InP and fused silica substrates using plasmas generated from hydrocarbon gases. Methane and n-butane sources were utilized. The effects of flow rate and power density on film growth were investigated. Carbon was the major constituent in the films. The degree of asymmetry at the carbon-semiconductor interface was approximately independent of the power density. Different H-C bonding configurations were detected by the technique of secondary-ion mass spectrometry. Band gaps up to 3 eV were obtained from optical absorption studies. Breakdown strengths as high as 600 MV/m were measured.

Pouch, John J.↗

Comprehensive Evaluation of Electrochemical Hydrogen Separator as Hydrogen Recovery Solution for Plasma Pyrolysis Assembly

The previously tested State-of-the-Art (SOA) air revitalization architecture onboard the International Space Station recovers approximately 50% of the oxygen (O 2 ) from metabolic carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) via the Sabatier process. Maximum O 2 recovery is required to reduce resupply mass for long-duration manned missions. O 2 recovery is constrained by the limited availability of reactant hydrogen (H 2 ) from water (H 2 O) electrolysis, and Sabatier-produced methane (CH 4 ) is vented as a waste product resulting in a continuous loss of reactant H 2 . The Plasma Pyrolysis Assembly (PPA) has the potential to substantially increase O 2 recovery by post-processing the Sabatier-produced methane to recover H 2 . The PPA decomposes CH 4 into predominately H 2 and acetylene (C 2 H 2 ). A separation system is needed to purify the H 2 from the PPA stream before it is recycled back to the Sabatier reactor. Two sub-scale electrochemical H 2 separation systems, developed by Skyre, Incorporated, were delivered to NASA for evaluation. Complimentary of the previous submittal, ICES-2023-260, this paper reports a summation of Phase I and Phase II testing and evaluation of the C 2 H 2 removal systems as well as lessons learned.

Plasma Pyrolysis Assembly↗

Vacuum ultraviolet absorption in a hydrogen arcjet

Atomic absorption spectroscopy was utilized to measure the ground state atomic hydrogen number density in the plasma produced in a low power hydrogen arcjet. A microwave driven hydrogen plasma was used as the source of radiation resonant with the vacuum ultraviolet Lyman alpha transition. The suitability of this radiation source is discussed. The optical depth of this transition prevented measurements at locations where the ground state atomic hydrogen number density was larger than 3 x 10 exp 19/cu m. These results indicate that other single-photon optical diagnostic techniques are equally ineffective in locations of higher hydrogen number density unless the spectral line shape of the atomic hydrogen absorbers is known.

Manzella, David H.↗

Acceleration of thermal plasma in the magnetosphere

Analytic theory and numerical simulations are used here to investigate the physics of two types of mixed plasmas. The transverse acceleration of ions on auroral field lines is considered in order to determine the effects of multiion species. In the auroral zone the components of a multiion plasma, including hydrogen and oxygen, interact with each other as well as with a two-component electron plasma composed of both a magnetospheric beam and background ionospheric components. This interaction occurs as a mixed ion-ion hybrid mode. How an electron plasma, with both hot and cold components as well as ion beams, affects the plasma sheet boundary layer is examined. It is found that in the presence of this mixed electron plasma, warm ion beams can drive the electron acoustic instability; this phenomenon may be responsible for broadband electrostatic noise in the boundary layer.

Ashour-Abdalla, Maha↗

Fluid hydrogen at high density - The plasma phase transition

A new model equation of state is applied, based on realistic interparticle potentials and a self-consistent treatment of the internal levels, to fluid hydrogen at high density. This model shows a strong connection between molecular dissociation and pressure ionization. The possibility of a first-order plasma phase transition is considered, and for which both the evolution in temperature and the critical point is given.

Saumon, D.↗

Deposition of diamond-like films by ECR microwave plasma

Hard amorphous hydrogenated carbon, diamond-like films are deposited using an electron cyclotron resonance microwave plasma with a separate radio frequency power bias applied to a substrate stage. The electron cyclotron resonance microwave plasma yields low deposition pressure and creates ion species otherwise unavailable. A magnetic mirror configuration extracts special ion species from a plasma chamber. Different levels of the radio frequency power bias accelerate the ion species of the ECR plasma impinging on a substrate to form different diamond-like films. During the deposition process, a sample stage is maintained at an ambient temperature of less than 100.degree. C. No external heating is applied to the sample stage. The deposition process enables diamond-like films to be deposited on heat-sensitive substrates.

Shing, Yuh-Han↗

Study of the dissociation of molecular hydrogen

Dissociators used to obtain an RF plasma discharge for hydrogen masers and the test system used for operation and evaluation of the dissociators are described. A compact sorption cartridge using a graphite matrix is tested as part of a hydrogen scavenging system. Testing of a vacuum enclosed hydrogen dissociator suitable for long term operation in space is described.

Vessot, R. F. C.↗

Energy transfer by radiation in non-grey atomic gases in isothermal and non-isothermal slabs

A multiband model for the absorption coefficient of atomic hydrogen-helium plasmas is constructed which includes continuum and line contributions. Emission from 28 stronger lines of 106 that have been screened is considered, of which 21 are from hydrogen and 7 belong to helium, with reabsorption due to line-line, line-continuum overlap accurately accounted for. The model is utilized in the computation of intensities and fluxes from shock-heated slabs of 85% H2-15% He mixtures for slab thicknesses from 1 to 30 cm, temperature from 10,000 to 20,000 K, and for different densities. In conjunction with the multiband model, simple numerical schemes have been devised which provide a quick and comprehensive way of computing radiative energy transfer in nonisothermal and nongrey gases.

Poon, P. T. Y.↗

Hydrogen line ratios as electron temperature indicators in nonequilibrium plasmas.

The ratio of intensities of hydrogen Balmer lines H-alpha/H-beta is proposed as an indicator of electron temperature in a nonequilibrium plasma. Although different from the equilibrium case, the intensity ratio is a unique function of electron temperature provided that the optical depth is small for the visible lines and the plasma is far out of equilibrium. For such a plasma, the H-alpha/H-beta intensity ratios are computed. The results are tabulated in the form of a conversion table between the measured excitation temperature and the true electron temperature. The ranges of applicability of the conversion table are also computed and are presented in separate tables. An example is shown in which particle densities are consistent with the Saha equilibrium condition at the apparent excitation temperature even though the plasma is in nonequilibrium at a different true electron temperature.

Park, C.↗