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At least 163 records · Page 9

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NASA NTRS2003

Prolonging Microgravity on Parabolic Airplane Flights

Three techniques have been proposed to prolong the intervals of time available for microgravity experiments aboard airplanes flown along parabolic trajectories. Typically, a pilot strives to keep an airplane on such a trajectory during a nominal time interval as long as 25 seconds, and an experimental apparatus is released to float freely in the airplane cabin to take advantage of the microgravitational environment of the trajectory for as long as possible. It is usually not possible to maintain effective microgravity during the entire nominal time interval because random aerodynamic forces and fluctuations in pilot control inputs cause the airplane to deviate slightly from a perfect parabolic trajectory, such that the freely floating apparatus bumps into the ceiling, floor, or a wall of the airplane before the completion of the parabola.

Robinson, David W.↗

NASA NTRS2004

Laboratory Apparatus Generates Dual-Species Cold Atomic Beam

A laser cooling apparatus that generates a cold beam of rubidium and cesium atoms at low pressure has been constructed as one of several intermediate products of a continuing program of research on laser cooling and atomic physics. Laser-cooled atomic beams, which can have temperatures as low as a microkelvin, have been used in diverse applications that include measurements of fundamental constants, atomic clocks that realize the international standard unit of time, atom-wave interferometers, and experiments on Bose-Einstein condensation. The present apparatus is a prototype of one being evaluated for use in a proposed microgravitational experiment called the Quantum Interferometric Test of Equivalence (QuITE). In this experiment, interferometric measurements of cesium and rubidium atoms in free fall would be part of a test of Einstein s equivalence principle. The present apparatus and its anticipated successors may also be useful in other experiments, in both microgravity and normal Earth gravity, in which there are requirements for dual-species atomic beams, low temperatures, and low pressures. The apparatus includes a pyramidal magneto-optical trap in which the illumination is provided by multiple lasers tuned to frequencies characteristic of the two atomic species. The inlet to the apparatus is located in a vacuum chamber that contains rubidium and cesium atoms at a low pressure; the beam leaving through the outlet of the apparatus is used to transfer the atoms to a higher-vacuum (lower-pressure) chamber in which measurements are performed. The pyramidal magneto-optical trap is designed so that the laser cooling forces in one direction are unbalanced, resulting in a continuous cold beam of atoms that leak out of the trap (see figure). The radiant intensity (number of atoms per unit time per unit solid angle) of the apparatus is the greatest of any other source of the same type reported to date. In addition, this is the first such apparatus capable of producing a slow, collimated beam that contains two atomic species at the same time.

Thompson, Robert↗

NASA NTRS2010

Methods and apparatus for determining cardiac output

The present invention provides methods and apparatus for determining a dynamical property of the systemic or pulmonary arterial tree using long time scale information, i.e., information obtained from measurements over time scales greater than a single cardiac cycle. In one aspect, the invention provides a method and apparatus for monitoring cardiac output (CO) from a single blood pressure signal measurement obtained at any site in the systemic or pulmonary arterial tree or from any related measurement including, for example, fingertip photoplethysmography.According to the method the time constant of the arterial tree, defined to be the product of the total peripheral resistance (TPR) and the nearly constant arterial compliance, is determined by analyzing the long time scale variations (greater than a single cardiac cycle) in any of these blood pressure signals. Then, according to Ohm's law, a value proportional to CO may be determined from the ratio of the blood pressure signal to the estimated time constant. The proportional CO values derived from this method may be calibrated to absolute CO, if desired, with a single, absolute measure of CO (e.g., thermodilution). The present invention may be applied to invasive radial arterial blood pressure or pulmonary arterial blood pressure signals which are routinely measured in intensive care units and surgical suites or to noninvasively measured peripheral arterial blood pressure signals or related noninvasively measured signals in order to facilitate the clinical monitoring of CO as well as TPR.

Cohen, Richard J.↗

NASA NTRS1971

A measurement of the fast luminescent decay time of P-15 phosphor

During the development of a delayed coincidence apparatus for the study of atomic decays, the need arose for a bright, fast, and inexpensive light source with known decay characteristics. A sample of P-15 phosphor was obtained for use as a calibration light source. A short pulse duration was employed to preferentially excite the short lifetime components relative to the longer-lived ones. The computer analysis revealed that the raw MCA decay curve data could be described well by a sum of three exponentials with decay times of about 88 nsec, about 6.5 nsec, and 1.04 + or - 2%.

Sutton, J. F.↗

NASA NTRS1990

Predictive sensor method and apparatus

A predictive algorithm is used to determine, in near real time, the steady state response of a slow responding sensor such as hydrogen gas sensor of the type which produces an output current proportional to the partial pressure of the hydrogen present. A microprocessor connected to the sensor samples the sensor output at small regular time intervals and predicts the steady state response of the sensor in response to a perturbation in the parameter being sensed, based on the beginning and end samples of the sensor output for the current sample time interval.

Nail, William L.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Advanced vehicle separation apparatus

A method of obtaining test data from two independent models or bodies in a conventional wind tunnel is described. The system makes efficient use of wind tunnel test time with computer control performing complex coordinate transformations necessary for model positioning. The apparatus is designed to be used in any of the three Unitary Wind Tunnels at NASA-Ames Research Center. Mechanical design details and a brief description of the control system for the separation apparatus are presented.

Ospring, M. J.↗

NASA NTRS1979

Ge:Ga testing at Cornell

The spiking and memory behavior of a number of Ge:Ga detectors was studied. The detectors were manufactured at a number of locations using several different contacting techniques. Two detectors manufactured for the IRAS program by Rockwell International were studied more extensively than the others. These detectors IRD 1981 and IRD 1982 were 'witness sample' detectors for the IRAS bands 4 and 3, respectively. During the testing period both the apparatus and the test procedures were changed numerous times. At each change consistency checks were made. The data are believed to be internally consistent from end to end.

Briotta, D. A., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Optical multiple sample vacuum integrating sphere

An integrating sphere comprised of a uniform difusely reflecting spherical cavity, having mutually transverse input and output ports, and a linear sample transport mechanism is described. The sample transport mechanism is secured so that the multiple samples can be brought into registration with the input port, one at a time, without having to open or disassemble the apparatus when a change of sample is desired. A vacuum tight seal is provided between the cavity and the transport mechanism. This maintains the integrity of a vacuum generated with the sphere when attached to the source of optical energy. The device is utilized to test emissive characteristics such as the relative fluorescence quantum efficiency of a dye sample placed in the path of a monochromatic optical energy source coupled to the input port while having a light detector coupled to the output port.

Butner, C. L.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Comparator with noise suppression

An apparatus for generating a single pulse the first time only that a noisy cyclic signal exceeds a reference level during a half-cycle is disclosed. For the positive half of a cycle of the noisy cyclic signal, a comparator and a multivibrator produce a fixed voltage output when the noisy cyclic signal first exceeds the reference level. A multivibrator stops the production of the fixed voltage output when the noisy cyclic signal next passes the zero voltage level in the negative direction. Consequently, a single pulse is generated indicating that the signal exceeded the reference level during that half-cycle. The comparator and multi-vibrator produce pulses whenever the noisy cyclic signal exceeds the reference level during the negative half-cycle.

Batts, Colossie N.↗

NASA NTRS1927

Tension experiments on diaphragm metals

Strips of german silver, steel, copper, duralumin, nickel and brass were tested in tension in an apparatus in which the change in deflection with time was measured by means of an interferometer. This change in deflection with time caused by the application and removal of a load is defined as "drift" and "recovery," respectively. It was measured in the time interval from approximately 5 seconds to 5 hours after loading. The data are given in a series of graphs in which the drift and recovery are plotted against time. The proportional drift and recovery in five hours are given for a number of the tests, and in addition are shown graphically for nickel and steel.

Henrickson, H B↗

NASA NTRS1976

Absorption of CO2-laser radiation in a hypocycloidal-pinch plasma

Absorption of a 50-J pulsed CO2 laser beam in the plasma produced in a hypocycloidal-pinch apparatus was studied. The apparatus consists of three disk electrodes with a 5-cm hole on the axis. The current sheets are snow-plowed toward the center of the hole to produce a plasma with a density greater than 10 to the 18th/cu cm and a temperature near 1 keV which emits soft X rays for 5 microsec. IR detectors measured the laser radiation incident onto, transmitted through, and scattered from the plasma as functions of time. For a period up to 70 microsec from the onset of X-ray emission, neither transmitted nor scattered laser radiation was observed above the detector threshold of 0.3% of the incident flux. This indicates effective absorption of the laser beam (greater than 99%) and that the particle confinement time extends far beyond the energy confinement time of 5 microsec. Thus, the plasma in this apparatus appears much more amenable to laser heating than that in a theta pinch.

Lee, J. H.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Method and apparatus for non-invasive evaluation of diaphragmatic function

A method for non-invasive evaluation of diaphragmatic function in humans measures the thickness of the diaphragm in real time with an ultrasonic device, and displays the variations of diaphragm thickness versus time. Formulae are given for calculating a quantitative value for the reserve fatigue capacity of a patient's diaphragm from data obtained by measuring the time limits for maintaining a constant breathing pattern on the display at two different pressure differentials in series with the patient's airways. An apparatus for displaying the diaphragm thickness in real time is also described. The method can be used both on healthy patients and on patients with so severe breathing dysfunctions that they require breathing support from respirators.

Yost, William T.↗

NASA NTRS1995

Method and apparatus for non-invasive evaluation of diaphragmatic function

Yost, William T.↗

NASA NTRS1994

Thermalite Apparatus

Thermalite is portable apparatus that nondestructively determines thermal-diffusion properties of specimen. Based on heat-pulse method; it applies pulse of heat to specimen, then computes relevant thermal properties of specimen from time-resolved measurements of thermal response of specimen to heat pulse. Apparatus is self-contained and calibrated and tested with stored thermal pattern as standard. Used to assess flaw in specimen.

Heyman, Joseph S.↗

NASA NTRS1974

Automatic real-time pair-feeding system for animals

A pair feeding method and apparatus are provided for experimental animals wherein the amount of food consumed is immediately delivered to a normal or control animal so that there is a qualitative, quantitative and chronological correctness in the pair feeding of the two animals. This feeding mechanism delivers precisely measured amounts of food to a feeder. Circuitry is provided between master and slave feeders so that there is virtually no chance of a malfunction of the feeding apparatus, causing erratic results. Recording equipment is also provided so that an hourly record is kept of food delivery.

Leon, H. A.↗

NASA NTRS2009

Apparatus and method for enhancing tissue repair in mammals

An apparatus is introduced for the use of enhancing tissue repair in mammals. The apparatus includes a sleeve; an electrically conductive coil; a sleeve support; an electrical circuit configured to supply the coil with a square wave time varying electrical current sufficient to create approximately 0.05 gauss to 0.5 gauss. When in use, the sleeve of the apparatus is placed on a mammalian body part and the time varying electromagnetic force of from approximately 0.05 gauss to 0.5 gauss is generated on the mammalian body for an extended period of time so that the tissue is encouraged to be regenerated in the mammalian body part at a rate in excess of the normal tissue regeneration rate relative to regeneration without application of the time varying electromagnetic force.

Goodwin, Thomas J.↗

NASA NTRS1973

Research of metal solidification in zero-g state

An experiment test apparatus that allows metal melting and resolidification in the three seconds available during free fall in a drop tower was built and tested in the tower. Droplets (approximately 0.05 cm) of pure nickel and 1090 steel were prepared in this fashion. The apparatus, including instrumentation, is described. As part of the instrumentation, a method for measuring temperature-time histories of the free floating metal droplets was developed. Finally, a metallurgical analysis of the specimens prepared in the apparatus is presented.

Aubin, W. M.↗

NASA NTRS2004

Low Gravity Rapid Thermal Analysis of Glass

It has been observed by two research groups that ZrF4-BaF2-LaF3-AlF3-NaF (ZBLAN) glass crystallization is suppressed in microgravity. The mechanism for this phenomenon is unknown at the present time. In order to better understand the mechanism, an experiment was performed on NASA's KC135 reduced gravity aircraft to obtain quantitative crystallization data. An apparatus was designed and constructed for performing rapid thermal analysis of milligram quantities of ZBLAN glass. The apparatus employs an ellipsoidal furnace allowing for rapid heating and cooling. Using this apparatus nucleation and crystallization kinetic data was obtained leading to the construction of time-temperature-transformation curves for ZBLAN in microgravity and unit gravity.

Tucker, Dennis S.↗