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At least 163 records · Page 9

A unique type 3 ordinary chondrite containing graphite-magnetite aggregates - Allan Hills A77011

ALHA 77011, which is the object of study in the present investigation, is a chondrite of the 1977 meteorite collection from Allan Hills, Antarctica. It contains an opaque and recrystallized silicate matrix (Huss matrix) and numerous aggregates consisting of micron- and submicron-sized graphite and magnetite. It is pointed out that no abundant graphite-magnetite aggregates could be observed in other type 3 ordinary chondrites, except for Sharps. Attention is given to the results of a modal analysis, relations between ALHA 77011 and other type 3 ordinary chondrites, and the association of graphite-magnetite and metallic Fe, Ni. The discovery of graphite-magnetite aggregates in type 3 ordinary chondrites is found to suggest that this material may have been an important component in the formation of ordinary chondrites.

Mckinley, S. G.↗

Noble gas trapping by laboratory carbon condensates

Trapping of noble gases by carbon-rich matter was investigated by synthesizing carbon condensates in a noble gas atmosphere. Laser evaporation of a solid carbon target yielded submicron grains which proved to be efficient noble gas trappers (Xe distribution coefficients up to 13 cu cm STP/g-atm). The carbon condensates are better noble gas trappers than previously reported synthetic samples, except one, but coefficients inferred for meteoritic acid-residues are still orders of magnitude higher. The trapped noble gases are loosely bound and elementally strongly fractionated, but isotopic fractionations were not detected. Although this experiment does not simulate nebular conditions, the results support the evidence that carbon-rich phases in meteorites may be carriers of noble gases from early solar system reservoirs. The trapped elemental noble gas fractionations are remarkably similar to both those inferred for meteorites and those of planetary atmospheres for earth, Mars and Venus.

Niemeyer, S.↗

The path and surviving tail of a comet that fell into the sun

A satisfactory orbital solution for Comet Howard-Koomen-Michels 1979 XI is found on the assumption that the comet's line of apsides coincided with that of the Kreutz sungrazing comet group. The derived perihelion distance then shows that this is the first known case of a comet falling into the sun. A dust tail that survived the comet is studied as a particle flow phenomenon controlled by no force other than solar gravity and solar radiation pressure. The tail's outline is interpreted in terms of an onset of dust production, a peak repulsive force on the particles, and a circumsolar dustfree zone due to particle sublimation. It is shown that the surviving debris consisted mostly of absorbing, submicron size particles in hyperbolic trajectories convex to the sun and curving toward the earth. The tail width may be a product of the interaction of charged dust in the tail with a complicated structure of the coronal magnetic field.

Sekanina, Z.↗

In situ monitoring of liquid phase electroepitaxial growth

In situ monitoring of the layer thickness during liquid phase electroepitaxy (LPEE) was achieved with a submicron resolution through precise resistance measurements. The new approach to the study and control of LPEE was applied to growth of undoped and Ge-doped GaAs layers. The in situ determined growth kinetics was found to be in excellent agreement with theory.

Okamoto, A.↗

Sampling of Silicon Powder for Impurity Analysis

Electron beam forms dense pellets of powdered silicon for Zeeman analysis. Sampling method focuses electron beam on submicron silicon powder. Process enhances quality control in production of low-cost silicon powder for semiconductor industry.

Yamakawa, K. A.↗

Impact of VLSI/VHSIC on satellite on-board signal processing

Forecasted improvements in IC fabrication techniques, such as the use of X-ray lithography, are expected to yield submicron circuit feature sizes within the decade of the 1980s. As dimensions decrease, reliability, cost, speed, power consumption and density improvements will be realized which have a significant impact on the capabilities of onboard spacecraft signal processing functions. This will in turn result in increases of the intelligence that may be deployed on spaceborne remote sensing platforms. Among programs oriented toward such goals are the silicon-based Very High Speed Integrated Circuit (VHSIC) researches sponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense, and efforts toward the development of GaAs devices which will compete with silicon VLSI technology for future applications. GaAs has an electron mobility which is five to six times that of silicon, and promises commensurate computation speed increases under low field conditions.

Aanstoos, J. V.↗

Annual Conference on Nuclear and Space Radiation Effects, 19th, Las Vegas, NV, July 20-22, 1982, Proceedings

The results of research concerning the effects of nuclear and space radiation are presented. Topics discussed include the basic mechanisms of nuclear and space radiation effects, radiation effects in devices, and radiation effects in microcircuits, including studies of radiation-induced paramagnetic defects in MOS structures, silicon solar cell damage from electrical overstress, radiation-induced charge dynamics in dielectrics, and the enhanced radiation effects on submicron narrow-channel NMOS. Also examined are topics in SGEMP/IEMP phenomena, hardness assurance and testing, energy deposition, desometry, and radiation transport, and single event phenomena. Among others, studies are presented concerning the limits to hardening electronic boxes to IEMP coupling, transient radiation screening of silicon devices using backside laser irradiation, the damage equivalence of electrons, protons, and gamma rays in MOS devices, and the single event upset sensitivity of low power Schottky devices.

Long, D. M.↗

Venus -Mesospheric hazes of ice, dust, and acid aerosols

Four distinct types of particles are suggested to be present in the upper atmosphere of Venus. The lowest and densest haze may consist of a submicron sulfuric acid aerosol which extends above the cloud tops, up to about 80 km, representing an extension of the upper cloud deck. Temperature structure measurements in the 70-120 km altitude range indicate the occasional appearance of two independent water ice layers, of which the lower may form between 80 and 100 km and is probably the detached haze layer noted in high contrast limb photography. A nucleation of this ice layer on sulfuric acid aerosols is hypothesized. Temperatures of the Venus mesopause, near 120 km altitude, are frequently cold enough to allow ice nucleation on meteoric dust or ambient ions, yielding a haze (analogous to noctilucent clouds on earth) which is expected to be tenuous to the point of optical invisibility.

Turco, R. P.↗

Application of digital image analysis techniques to antimisting fuel spray characterization

Pulsed ruby laser sheet illumination of the spray is used for the initial recording of data on very-high-resolution photographic film. The digitization of mosaic elements is effected with a vidicon and video digitizer whose output is stored in computer RAM memory for processing. Highly nonspherical elements and a broad range of drop diameters (8-2000 microns) resulting from the unusual rheological properties of the fuel-additive system are accommodated by the device configuration and algorithms. It is found that the generation of two-dimensional images by means of scattered light also eliminates errors resulting from variations in the index of refraction and from the submicron scattering sites that are often present within the modified fuel. No a priori information on the drop size distribution or on the system response to various drop sizes is required.

Fleeter, R.↗

Io's 4-micron band and the role of adsorbed SO2

The role of adsorbed SO2 on Io's surface particles in producing the observed spectral absorption band near 4 microns in Io's reflectance spectrum is explored. Calculations show that a modest 50 percent monolayer coating of adsorbed So2 molecules on submicron grains of sulfur or alkali sulfide, assumed to make up Io's uppermost optical surface ('radialith'), will result in a nu 1 + nu 3 absorption band near 4 microns with depth about 30 percent below the adjacent continuum, consistent with the observed strength of the Io band. The precise wavelength position of the nu 1 + nu 3 band of SO2 in different phase states such as frost, ice, adsorbate, and gas are summarized from the experimental literature and compared with the available telescopic measurements of the Io band position. The results suggest that the 4-micron band in Io's full disk spectrum can best be explained by the presence on Io's surface of widespread SO2 in the form of adsorbate rather than ice or frost.

Nash, D. B.↗

The Halley dust model

The properties of dust ejecta from Comet Halley are studied on the basis of (a) evidence from the comet's past apparitions and (b) analogy with recent, physically similar comets. Specifically discussed are the light curve and spectrum, discrete phenomena in the head, the physical properties of the nucleus (size, albedo, rotation, surface temperature, and morphology), and an interaction between the nucleus and dust atmosphere. Also reviewed are constraints on the size and mass distributions of dust particles, information on submicron-size and submillimeter-size grains from the comet's dust tail and antitail, and the apparent existence of more than one particle type. Similarities between the jet patterns of Halley and the parent comet of the Perseid meteor stream are depicted, and effects of the surface heterogeneity (discrete active regions) on the dust flow are assessed. Current dust models for Halley are summarized and the existence of short-term variations in the dust content in the comet's atmosphere is suggested.

Sekanina, Z.↗

Saturn's E, G, and F rings - Modulated by the plasma sheet?

Saturn's broad E ring, the narrow G ring, and the structured and apparently time-variable F ring(s) contain many micron and submicron-sized particles, which make up the 'visible' component. These rings (or ring systems) are in direct contact with magnetospheric plasma. Fluctuations in the plasma density and/or mean energy, due to magnetospheric and solar wind processes, may induce stochastic charge variations on the dust particles, which in turn lead to an orbit perturbation and spatial diffusion. In addition, Coulomb drag forces may be important, in particular for the E ring. The possibility that electromagnetic effects may play a role in determining the F ring structure and its possible time variations is critically examined. Sputtering of micron-sized dust particles in the E ring by magnetospheric ions yields lifetimes of 100 to 10,000 years. This effect as well as the plasma induced transport processes require an active source for the E ring, probably Enceladus.

Morfill, G. E.↗

The function and response of an improved stratospheric condensation nucleus counter

An improved condensation nucleus counter (CNC) for use in the stratosphere is described. The University of Minnesota CNC (UMCNC) has a sequential saturator and condenser and uses n-butyl alcohol as the working fluid. The use of a coaxial saturator flow, with aerosol in the center and filtered, alcohol-laden air around it, speeds the response of this instrument and improves its stability as pressure changes. The counting efficiency has been studied as a function of particle size and pressure. The UMCNC provides an accurate measure of submicron aerosol concentration as long as the number distribution is not dominated by sub-0.02 micron diameter aerosol. The response of the UMCNC is compared with that of other stratospheric condensation nucleus counters, and the results of a (near) comparison with a balloon-borne condensation nucleus counter are presented. The UMCNC has operated 14 times on a NASA U-2 aircraft at altitudes from 8 to 21.5 km.

Wilson, J. C.↗

Plasma polymerized high energy density dielectric films for capacitors

High energy density polymeric dielectric films were prepared by plasma polymerization of a variety of gaseous monomers. This technique gives thin, reproducible, pinhole free, conformable, adherent, and insoluble coatings and overcomes the processing problems found in the preparation of thin films with bulk polymers. Thus, devices are prepared completely in a vacuum environment. The plasma polymerized films prepared all showed dielectric strengths of greater than 1000 kV/cm and in some cases values of greater than 4000 kV/cm were observed. The dielectric loss of all films was generally less than 1% at frequencies below 10 kHz, but this value increased at higher frequencies. All films were self healing. The dielectric strength was a function of the polymerization technique, whereas the dielectric constant varied with the structure of the starting material. Because of the thin films used (thickness in the submicron range) surface smoothness of the metal electrodes was found to be critical in obtaining high dielectric strengths. High dielectric strength graft copolymers were also prepared. Plasma polymerized ethane was found to be thermally stable up to 150 C in the presence of air and 250 C in the absence of air. No glass transitions were observed for this material.

Yamagishi, F. G.↗

Micronized coal burner facility

A combustor or burner system in which the ash resulting from burning a coal in oil mixture is of submicron particle size is described. The burner system comprises a burner section, a flame exit nozzle, a fuel nozzle section, and an air tube by which preheated air is directed into the burner section. Regulated air pressure is delivered to a fuel nozzle. Means are provided for directing a mixture of coal particles and oil from a drum to a nozzle at a desired rate and pressure while means returns excess fuel to the fuel drum. Means provide for stable fuel pressure supply from the fuel pump to the fuel nozzle.

Calfo, F. D.↗

Powder fed sheared dispersal particle generator

A particle generating system is described which is capable of breaking up agglomerations of particles and producing a cloud of uniform, submicron-sized particles at high pressure and high flow rates. This is achieved by utilizing a tubular structure which has injection microslits on is periphery to accept and disperse the desired particle feed. By suppling a carrying fluid at a pressure, of approximately twice the ambient pressure of the velocimeter's settling chamber, the microslits operate at choked flow conditions. The shearing action of this choked flow is sufficient to overcome interparticle bonding forces, thereby breaking up the agglomerates of the particles feed into individual particles.

Morrisette, E. L.↗

Characterization of silicon-gate CMOS/SOS integrated circuits processed with ion implantation

The procedure used to generate MEBES masks and produce test wafers from the 10X Mann 1600 Pattern Generator Tape using existing CAD utility programs and the MEBES machine in the RCA Solid State Technology Center are described. The test vehicle used is the MSFC-designed SC102 Solar House Timing Circuit. When transforming the Mann 1600 tapes into MEBES tapes, extreme care is required in order to obtain accurate minimum linewidths when working with two different coding systems because the minimum grid sizes may be different for the two systems. The minimum grid sizes are 0.025 mil for MSFC Mann 1600 and 0.02 mil for MEBES. Some snapping to the next grid is therefore inevitable, and the results of this snapping effect are significant when submicron lines are present. However, no problem was noticed in the SC102 circuit because its minimum linewidth is 0.3 mil (7.6 microns). MEBES masks were fabricated and wafers were processed using the silicon-gate CMOS/SOS and aluminum-gate COS/MOS processing.

Woo, D. S.↗

Investigation of supersonic separated flow in a compression corner by laser Doppler anemometry

A single-component, computer-operated, three dimensional traversing laser Doppler velocimetry system was designed and constructed for a supersonic wind tunnel. The model was a 10 deg compression corner, providing an example of laminar boundary layer separation. Static pressure data and color schlieren photographs were taken. The Mach number was 2.42 and the Reynolds number was 213,000. The flow was seeded with submicron sized oil droplets. The trend of decreasing upstream influence with increasing Reynolds number was confirmed. Mean velocity profiles provided experimental evidence of reversed flow. Points of separation and reattachment were consistent with those determined by schlieren and pressure scans. The flow was of the laminar type until downstream of reattachment. Individual mean velocity and turbulence profiles, as well as velocity histograms are presented.

Baroth, E. C.↗