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At least 163 records · Page 9

A component decomposition model for evaluating atmospheric effects in remote sensing

A radiance value of a target pixel recorded by a remote sensor can be decomposed into three components: (1) attenuated target signature, (2) pure atmospheric radiation, and (3) the contribution made by the ground through the atmospheric scattering process. Given the meteorological and optical parameters of a layer-structured atmosphere, its transmittance and radiance distribution can be accurately calculated with a plane-parallel radiative transfer model. For a uniform surface, the ground contribution can be obtained by comparing radiances for an atmosphere over a black but nonemitting surface and the same atmosphere with an underlying ground of given albedo or temperature. For an inhomogeneous surface, the first two components remain the same as long as the surface is a plane. The third may be estimated using the locally averaged top-of-atmosphere radiance. An atmospheric point spread function is calculated by a Monte Carlo approach and is used for retrieving the ground signature through a deconvolution procedure.

Li, S.↗

Radiative Transfer in a Discrete Random Medium Adjacent to a Half-Space with a Rough Interface

For a macroscopically plane-parallel discrete random medium, the boundary conditions for the specific coherency dyadic at a rough interface are derived. The derivation is based on a modification of the Twersky approximation for a scattering system consisting of a group of particles and the rough surface, and reduces to the solution of the scattering problem for a rough surface illuminated by a plane electromagnetic wave propagating in a discrete random medium with non-scattering boundaries. In a matrix-form setting, the boundary conditions for the specific coherency dyadic imply the boundary conditions for specific intensity column vectors which in turn, yield the expressions for the reflection and transmission matrices. The derived expressions are shown to be identical to those obtained by applying a phenomenological approach based on a facet model to the solution of the scattering problem for a rough surface illuminated by a plane electromagnetic wave.

Adrian Doicu↗

Cyclotron resonant scattering in gamma-ray bursts - Further analysis of GB880205

We have extended our previous work by exploring several plane-parallel slab geometries to model the formation of cyclotron line features. We calculated the Compton temperature T(C) as a function of column density Ne for each of the new geometries. We then fit the resulting spectra to GB880205 exactly as described in Wang et al. (1989). The results show that the addition of column depth below the photon source plane leads to a modest improvement in chi-squared which, although not statistically significant, is pleasing because these geometries are more physically realistic.

Freeman, P. E.↗

Two-stream approximations to radiative transfer in planetary atmospheres - A unified description of existing methods and a new improvement

Existing two-stream approximations to radiative transfer theory for particulate media are shown to be represented by identical forms of coupled differential equations if the intensity is replaced by integrals of the intensity over hemispheres. One set of solutions thus suffices for all methods and provides convenient analytical comparisons. The equations also suggest modifications of the standard techniques so as to duplicate exact solutions for thin atmospheres and thus permit accurate determinations of the effects of typical aerosol layers. Numerical results for the plane albedos of plane-parallel atmospheres are given for conventional and modified Eddington approximations, conventional and modified two-point quadrature schemes, the hemispheric-constant method and the delta-function method, all for comparison with accurate discrete-ordinate solutions. A new two-stream approximation is introduced that reduces to the modified Eddington approximation in the limit of isotropic phase functions and to the exact solution in the limit of extreme anisotropic scattering. Comparisons of plane albedos and transmittances show the new method to be generally superior over a wide range of atmospheric conditions (including cloud and aerosol layers), especially in the case of nonconservative scattering.

Meador, W. E.↗

Dislocation mediated alignment during metal nanoparticle coalescence

Dislocation mediated alignment processes during gold nanoparticle coalescence were studied at low and high temperatures using molecular dynamics simulations and transmission electron microscopy. Particles underwent rigid body rotations immediately following attachment in both low temperature (500 K) simulated coalescence events and low temperature (~315 K) transmission electron microscopy beam heating experiments. In many low temperature simulations, some degree of misorientation between particles remained after rigid body rotations, which was accommodated by grain boundary dislocation nodes. These dislocations were either sessile and remained at the interface for the duration of the simulation or dissociated and cross-slipped through the adjacent particles, leading to improved co-alignment. Minimal rigid body rotations were observed during or immediately following attachment in high temperature (1100 K) simulations, which is attributed to enhanced diffusion at the particles' interface. However, rotation was eventually induced by {111} slip on planes parallel to the neck groove. These deformation modes led to the formation of single and multi-fold twins whose structures depended on the initial orientation of the particles. The driving force for {111} slip is attributed to high surface stresses near the intersection of low energy {111} facets in the neck region. The details of this twinning process were examined in detail using simulated trajectories, and the results reveal possible mechanisms for the nucleation and propagation of Shockley partials on consecutive planes. Deformation twinning was also observed in-situ using transmission electron microscopy, which resulted in the co-alignment of a set of the particles' {111} planes across their grain boundary and an increase in their dihedral angle. As a result, this constitutes the first detailed experimental observation of deformation twinning during nanoparticle coalescence, validating simulation results presented here and elsewhere.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

ARCADE 2 Observations of Galactic Radio Emission

We use absolutely calibrated data from the Absolute Radiometer for Cosmology, Astrophysics, and Diffuse Emission (ARCADE 2) flight in July 2006 to model Galactic emission at frequencies 3, 8, and 10 GHz. The spatial structure in the data is consistent with a superposition of free-free and synchrotron emission. Emission with spatial morphology traced by the Haslam 408 MHz survey has spectral index beta_synch = -2.5 +/- 0.1, with free-free emission contributing 0.10 +/- 0.01 of the total Galactic plane emission in the lowest ARCADE 2 band at 3.15 GHz. We estimate the total Galactic emission toward the polar caps using either a simple plane-parallel model with csc|b| dependence or a model of high-latitude radio emission traced by the COBE/FIRAS map of CII emission. Both methods are consistent with a single power-law over the frequency range 22 MHz to 10 GHz, with total Galactic emission towards the north polar cap T_Gal = 0.498 +/- 0.028 K and spectral index beta = -2.55 +/- 0.03 at reference frequency 0.31 GHz. The well calibrated ARCADE 2 maps provide a new test for spinning dust emission, based on the integrated intensity of emission from the Galactic plane instead of cross-correlations with the thermal dust spatial morphology. The Galactic plane intensity measured by ARCADE 2 is fainter than predicted by models without spinning dust, and is consistent with spinning dust contributing 0.4 +/- 0.1 of the Galactic plane emission at 23 GHz.

Kogut, A.↗

The influence of ozone and aerosols on the brightness and color of the twilight zone

The radiance and color of the twilight sky are calculated for single scattered radiation with the use of spherically symmetric models of the earth's atmosphere. Spherical geometry is used throughout the calculations with no plane parallel approximations. Refraction effects are taken into account through fine subdivision of the atmosphere into spherical shells of fixed index of refraction. Shell's law of refraction is used to calculate a direction of travel each time that a photon traverses the interface between layers. Five different models of the atmosphere were used: a pure molecular scattering atmosphere; molecular atmosphere plus ozone absorption; and three models with aerosol concentrations of 1, 3, and 10 times normal together with molecular scattering and ozone absorption. The results of the calculations are shown for various observation positions and local viewing angles in the solar plane for wavelengths in the range of 0.40 microns to 0.75 microns.

Adams, C. N.↗

The influence of ozone and aerosols on the brightness and color of the twilight sky

The radiance and color of the twilight sky are calculated for single scattered radiation with the use of spherically symmetric models of the earth's atmosphere. Spherical geometry is used throughout the calculations with no plane-parallel approximations. Refraction effects are taken into account through fine subdivision of the atmosphere into spherical shells of fixed index of refraction. Snell's law of refraction is used to calculate a new direction of travel each time that a photon traverses the interface between layers. Five different models of the atmosphere were used: a pure molecular scattering atmosphere; molecular atmosphere plus ozone absorption; and three models with aerosol concentrations of one, three, and ten times normal together with molecular scattering and ozone absorption. The results of the calculations are shown for various observation positions and local viewing angles in the solar plane for wavelengths in the range from 0.40 to 0.75 micron.

Adams, C. N.↗

Inferring Cloud Properties from Passive Solar Sensors

The most common approach for retrieving cloud optical depth from ground-based observations uses downwelling fluxes measured by pyranometers and Multi-Filter Rotating Shadowband Radiometers (MFRSR). The key element in both retrieval techniques is the one-to-one mapping of the "observed" fluxes into cloud optical depth through plane-parallel radiative transfer. Both methods are expected to work well only for completely overcast clouds giving an effective optical depth for the whole sky. To infer cloud optical depth locally one can assume to use a narrow-field-of view radiometer that measures radiances instead of fluxes. However, lack of one-to-one relationships between radiance and cloud optical depth, prevents the direct use of radiances either. Here we discuss a new method for retrieving cloud optical depth from ground-based measurements of zenith radiance in the RED and near infrared (NIR) spectral regions. In addition to an algebraic combinations of spectral radiances such as Normalized Difference Cloud Index (NDCI) that largely removes nonuniqueness and the radiative effects of cloud inhomogeneity but can result in poor retrievals due to its insensitivity to cloud fraction, both RED and NIR radiances as points on the "RED vs. NIR" plane are proposed to be used for retrieval. The proposed retrieval method is applied to a multi- channel sunphotometer (as a part of AERONET) measurements at the ARM site in Oklahoma. The results of retrieval are compared with the ones from Microwave Radiometer (MWR) and MFRSR. In addition to cloud optical depth, the new retrieval method also infers a "radiatively effective" cloud fraction.

Marshak, A.↗

Buoyancy-Driven Heat Transfer During Application of a Thermal Gradient for the Study of Vapor Deposition at Low Pressure Using and Ideal Gas

A mathematical model has been developed to determine heat transfer during vapor deposition of source materials under a variety of orientations relative to gravitational accelerations. The model demonstrates that convection can occur at total pressures as low as 10-2 mm Hg. Through numerical computation, using physical material parameters of air, a series of time steps demonstrates the development of flow and temperature profiles during the course of vapor deposition. These computations show that in unit gravity vapor deposition occurs by transport through a fairly complicated circulating flow pattern when applying heat to the bottom of the vessel with parallel orientation with respect to the gravity vector. The model material parameters for air predict the effect of kinematic viscosity to be of the same order as thermal diffusivity, which is the case for Prandtl number approx. 1 fluids. Qualitative agreement between experiment and the model indicates that 6-(2-methyl-4-nitroanilino)-2,4-hexadiyn-l-ol (DAMNA) at these pressures indeed approximates an ideal gas at the experiment temperatures, and may validate the use of air physical constants. It is apparent that complicated nonuniform temperature distribution in the vapor could dramatically affect the homogeneity, orientation, and quality of deposited films. The experimental test i's a qualitative comparison of film thickness using ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy on films generated in appropriately oriented vapor deposition cells. In the case where heating of the reaction vessel occurs from the top, deposition of vapor does not normally occur by convection due to a stable stratified medium. When vapor deposition occurs in vessels heated at the bottom, but oriented relative to the gravity vector between these two extremes, horizontal thermal gradients induce a complex flow pattern. In the plane parallel to the tilt axis, the flow pattern is symmetrical and opposite in direction from that where the vessel is positioned vertically. The ground-based experiments are sufficient preliminary tests of theory and should be of significant interest regarding vapor deposited films in microgravity.

Frazier, D. O.↗

Errors induced by the neglect of polarization in radiance calculations for Rayleigh-scattering atmospheres

Although neglecting polarization and replacing the rigorous vector radiative transfer equation by its approximate scalar counterpart has no physical background, it is a widely used simplification when the incident light is unpolarized and only the intensity of the reflected light is to be computed. We employ accurate vector and scalar multiple-scattering calculations to perform a systematic study of the errors induced by the neglect of polarization in radiance calculations for a homogeneous, plane-parallel Rayleigh-scattering atmosphere (with and without depolarization) above a Lambertian surface. Specifically, we calculate percent errors in the reflected intensity for various directions of light incidence and reflection, optical thicknesses of the atmosphere, single-scattering albedos, depolarization factors, and surface albedos. The numerical data displayed can be used to decide whether or not the scalar approximation may be employed depending on the parameters of the problem. We show that the errors decrease with increasing depolarization factor and/or increasing surface albedo. For conservative or nearly conservative scattering and small surface albedos, the errors are maximum at optical thicknesses of about 1. The calculated errors may be too large for some practical applications, and, therefore, rigorous vector calculations should be employed whenever possible. However, if approximate scalar calculations are used, we recommend to avoid geometries involving phase angles equal or close to 0 deg and 90 deg, where the errors are especially significant. We propose a theoretical explanation of the large vector/scalar differences in the case of Rayleigh scattering. According to this explanation, the differences are caused by the particular structure of the Rayleigh scattering matrix and come from lower-order (except first-order) light scattering paths involving right scattering angles and right-angle rotations of the scattering plane.

Mishchenko, M. I.↗

Interaction between a punch and an arbitrary crack or inclusion in a transversely isotropic half-space

Here, we consider the problem of an arbitrary shaped rigid punch pressed against the boundary of a transversely isotropic half-space and interacting with an arbitrary flat crack or inclusion, located in the plane parallel to the boundary. The set of governing integral equations is derived for the most general conditions, namely the presence of both normal and tangential stresses under the punch, as well as general loading of the crack faces. In order to verify correctness of the derivations, two different methods were used to obtain governing integral equations: generalized method of images and utilization of the reciprocal theorem. Both methods gave the same results. Axisymmetric coaxial case of interaction between a rigid inclusion and a flat circular punch both centered along the z-axis is considered as an illustrative example. Most of the final results are presented in terms of elementary functions.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Surface Current Approximation in Certain Problems of the Classical Theory of Superconductivity

The problems of the behavior of superconducting infinite plane-parallel plate and cylinder in an external magnetic field are solved in the approximation of the model of surface currents. The latter, in contrast to the conventional notation, enter as the currents of superconducting electrons into the boundary conditions for the magnetic induction. Surface currents are understood as the volumetric current flowing in the thickness of the near-surface layer, which is associated with the thickness of the London penetration depth of the field and currents into the thickness of the superconductor. It is shown that in this case, a jump in the magnetic quantities occurs at this thickness. The calculated average magnetization of the magnet is reduced to the strength of the external field. The proportionality coefficient, which is reasonable to call the mean magnetic susceptibility, turns out to be not exactly equal to –1, but has a slightly less value, because the field does not weaken immediately. The possibilities of experimental verification of the obtained effect are discussed.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Instrumented nanoindentation and 3D mechanistic modeling of a shale at multiple scales

Nanoindentation tests, spanning various length scales ranging from 200 nanometers to 5 micrometers deep, were performed here on a sample of organic-rich Woodford shale in both the bedding plane normal and bedding plane parallel directions. Focused ion beam milling (FIB), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) were utilized to characterize the shale at the scale of the nanoindentation testing as being comprised predominantly of clay and other silicate minerals suspended in a mixed organic/clay matrix. The nanoindentation tests reveal the mechanical properties of the relatively homogeneous constituent materials as well as those of the highly heterogeneous composite material. Loads on the order of a few milliNewtons produced shallower indents and demonstrated the elastic-plastic deformation response of the constituent materials, whereas higher loads of as much as a few hundred milliNewtons produced deeper indents revealing the response of the composite matrix. In both cases, significant creep was observed. We use nonlinear finite element modeling utilizing an isotropic critical state theory with creep to capture the indentation response by calibrating plastic material parameters to the laboratory measurements. The simulations offer a means of extracting plastic material parameters from the nanoindentation measurements, and reveal the capabilities as well as limitations of an isotropic model in capturing the response of an inherently anisotropic material.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Influence of Rotation Rate on Microstructure and Comprehensive Performance of FSWed Mg Alloy

Die-casting AZ31 Mg alloys were successfully friction stir welded at a constant welding speed and different rotation rates. More uniform and fine grains were obtained at the rotation rate of 1400 rpm due to more suitable temperature for dynamic recrystallization in this welding condition. In addition, the intensity of (0001) texture in stir zone increased with the increasing rotation rate. The results of mechanical property test indicated joint with rotation rate of 1400 rpm had better tensile property, which was associated with fine grains, uniform transition in the interface between thermo-mechanically affected zone and stir zone as well as more favorable Schmidt factor for basal slip and twinning. The corrosion resistance of joints increased with the increasing rotation rate, which is significantly related to the (0001) texture with basal plane parallel to the corroded surfaces.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

On Delamination Toughening of a 14YWT Nanostructured Ferritic Alloy

The FCRD NFA-1 is a high strength, irradiation tolerant nanostructured ferritic alloy (NFA) produced by ball milling argon atomized Fe-14Cr-3W-0.35Ti-0.25Y (wt.%) and FeO powders, followed by hot extrusion at 850 °C, and subsequent annealing and cross-rolling at 1000 °C. The microstructure of the resulting ≈10 mm thick NFA-1 plate is dominated by ultrafine sub-micron pancake shaped grains, and a large population of microcracks lying on planes parallel to the plate faces. Pre-cracked fracture toughness tests in four different orientations (L-T, T-L, L-S and T-S) show stable crack growth by ductile tearing, with peak load K Jc from ≈ 88 to 154 MPa√m at ambient temperature. Stable crack tearing persists down to ≈ -175 °C and is accompanied by extensive delamination due to the propagation of the microcracks. Depending on the specimen orientation, this unusual toughening mechanism is either due to a reduction of crack tip stresses in thin ligaments formed by the delaminations (L-T and T-L), or 90° deflection of cracks initially running normal to the delaminations (L-S and T-S), thereby suppressing cleavage in both cases. Lastly, understanding the fracture processes in NFA-1 is also important to its irradiation tolerance in nuclear service as well as its fabricability in making defect-free components such as thin-walled tubing.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Unusual size effects from tilted twin boundaries in nano-twinned metals

Tilted twin boundaries (TBs), whose plane normals are rotated at an angle from the parent grain axis, naturally occur in columnar-grained, nano-twinned (NT) metals. Here, using a combination of atomistic simulations and analytical modeling, we reveal that NT metals with the ideal, non-tilted TBs exhibit continuously increasing strength with decreasing twin thickness, and hence, no inverse twin thickness size effect on strength. In contrast, NT metals with tilted TBs exhibit an inverse size effect, and the critical twin thickness, below which strength decreases, increases as the TB-tilt angle increases. The analysis also identifies a critical value of TB tilt, for which strength becomes independent of twin thickness and is the weakest. The transition arises from a change in dislocation activity prevailing mostly on planes inclined to TBs to planes parallel to the TBs. Overall, these findings reveal a profound influence of TB tilt angle that could redirect the analysis and engineering of nano-twin structures.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Fracture-permeability behavior of shale

The fracture-permeability behavior of Utica shale, an important play for shale gas and oil, was investigated using a triaxial coreflood device and X-ray tomography in combination with finite-discrete element modeling (FDEM). Fractures generated in both compression and in a direct-shear configuration allowed permeability to be measured across the faces of cylindrical core. Shale with bedding planes perpendicular to direct-shear loading developed complex fracture networks and peak permeability of 30 mD that fell to 5 mD under hydrostatic conditions. Shale with bedding planes parallel to shear loading developed simple fractures with peak permeability as high as 900 mD. In addition to the large anisotropy in fracture permeability, the amount of deformation required to initiate fractures was greater for perpendicular layering (about 1% versus 0.4%), and in both cases activation of existing fractures are more likely sources of permeability in shale gas plays or damaged caprock in CO₂ sequestration because of the significant deformation required to form new fracture networks. FDEM numerical simulations were able to replicate the main features of the fracturing processes while showing the importance of fluid penetration into fractures as well as layering in determining fracture patterns.

02 PETROLEUM↗