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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 1,621 records · Page 90
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NASA NTRS1981

Galaxy formation in an intergalactic medium dominated by explosions

The evolution of galaxies in an intergalactic medium dominated by explosions of star systems is considered analogously to star formation by nonlinearly interacting processes in the interstellar medium. Conditions for the existence of a hydrodynamic instability by which galaxy formation leads to more galaxy formation due to the propagation of the energy released at the death of massive stars are examined, and it is shown that such an explosive amplification is possible at redshifts less than about 5 and stellar system masses between 10 to the 8th and 10 to the 12th solar masses. Explosions before a redshift of about 5 are found to lead primarily to the formation of massive stars rather than galaxies, while those at a redshift close to 5 will result in objects of normal galactic scale. The model also predicts a dusty interstellar medium preventing the detection of objects of redshift greater than 3, numbers and luminosities of protogalaxies comparable to present observations, unvirialized groups of galaxies lying on two-dimensional surfaces, and a significant number of black holes in the mass range 1000-10,000 solar masses.

Ostriker, J. P.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Waves in space plasmas - The mirror trapping of hot auroral electrons

A brief review is given of the problem of precipitation of auroral electrons by electrostatic Bernstein waves. Since the magnetospheric loss cone is small, only moderately small intense levels of wave turbulence are required to remove any large anisotropy sources of free energy and to maintain a weakly anisotropic electron distribution on strong diffusion precipitation. The electrostatic electron cyclotron harmonic waves are nonconvectively unstable for weak loss cone anisotropies and over a large range of parameters for both the hot and cold distributions. Since the instability is nonconvective, weak wave growth can be maintained independent of the flux level of the hot electrons, i.e., the instability does not have the stably trapped flux limit imposed by convective amplification. Recent plasma numerical simulations show that the nonlinear evolution of this instability involves both the pitch angle diffusion of the hot electrons and the heating of the cold electrons.

Ashour-Abdalla, M.↗
NASA NTRS1981

A VLF transmitter on the Space Shuttle

The use of space-borne transmitters for the study of interactions of energetic radiation belt particles and coherent plasma waves in the earth's magnetosphere has been considered. The proposed Space Shuttle/Space Lab system would provide a useful VLF transmitter platform since it can lift the required large payloads into orbit, erect long antennas, supply the electrical power required, and provide real-time control. A study is conducted of the power budget of such a VLF transmitter in an attempt to assess the feasibility of the experiment. It is found that a 1-10 kW transmitter placed on the Space Shuttle/Space Lab system can inject from one watt to up to a few kilowatts of wave power into the whistler mode. Recent results of ground-based VLF wave-injection experiments show that such power levels would be more than enough for initiating nonlinear wave growth and amplification and emission triggering in the magnetosphere.

Inan, U. S.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Power line radiation in the magnetosphere

Harmonic radiation from electrical power transmission lines in the range of a few kHz leaks into the magnetosphere and stimulates a coherent wave instability, resulting in strong amplification of the input waves and the generation of free-running emissions. A description is given of some recent observational results that provide new information on the power line radiation (PLR) phenomenon. It is pointed out that PLR stimulates many subtle and complex wave-particle interactions in the magnetosphere that are similar to those simulated by controlled transmitter signals. These interactions undoubtedly affect both wave and particle environments in the magnetosphere. However, a quantitative assessment of their importance is not possible until further information becomes available.

Park, C. G.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Instability and transition in rotating disk flow

The stability of three-dimensional rotating disk flow is investigated, including the effects of Coriolis forces and streamline curvature. The numerical results show that the critical Reynolds number for establishment of stationary vortex flow is 287. These vortices spiral outward at an angle of about 11.2 deg, and transition to turbulence occurs when their total amplification is about e to the 11th. New experimental results are also reported on the spatial growth rates of the stationary vortices. It is shown that the analysis gives growth rates that compare much better with the experimental results than do results obtained using the Orr-Sommerfeld equation. The experimental results tend to support the numerical prediction that the number of stationary vortices varies directly with the Reynolds number. The calculations also indicate the existence of weakly unstable propagating (type II) modes at low Reynolds numbers (Critical Reynolds Number being approximately equal to 49).

Malik, M. R.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Contributions to the theory of side edge flap noise

High and low frequency asymptotic formulas are derived which express the acoustic frequency spectrum in terms of the wavenumber-frequency spectrum of surface pressure fluctuations on the upper surface of a part span flap, measured in-board of the side edge. Interpolations between the results are used to predict the field shape and its dependence on the subsonic forward flight speed over the whole frequency range. The radiation has the characteristics of a semibaffled dipole at small values of the Strouhal number based on the chord of the flap and the forward flight speed. The degree of Doppler amplification due to forward flight speed of the aircraft is dependent on the Strouhal number; the radiation efficiency of side-edge noise sources is governed by the value of the mean side-edge gap Strouhal number, and is larger when this number is small. Theoretical predictions extrapolated to full scale suggest that the noise generated at a single side edge can exceed that generated along the whole of the trailing edge of the flap by 3 dB.

Howe, M. S.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Commutated automatic gain control system

A commutated automatic gain control system (AGC) was designed and constructed for the prototype Loran C receiver. The AGC is designed to improve the signal-to-signal ratio of the received Loran signals. The AGC design does not require any analog to digital conversion and it utilizes commonly available components. The AGC consists of: (1) a circuit which samples the peak of the envelope of the Loran signal to obtain an AGC voltage for each of three Loran stations, (2) a dc gain circuit to control the overall gain of the AGC system, and (3) an AGC amplification of the input RF signal. The performance of the AGC system was observed in bench and flight tests; it has improved the overall accuracy of the receiver. Improvements in the accuracy of the time difference calculations to within approx. + or - 1.5 microseconds of the observed time differnces for a given position are reported.

Yost, S. R.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Goddard Contributions to the La Jolla Workshop on Gamma Ray Transients

Six articles addressing cosmic and solar gamma ray transients are presented. The topics covered include: gamma ray lines from solar flares and cosmic transients including burst spectra; a review of the 1979 March 5 transient; time variation in the 511 KeV flux observed by the ISEE spectrometer; time variations of an absorption feature in the spectrum of the burst on 1980 April 19; and the theory of gamma ray amplification through stimulated annihilation radiation.

Source record↗
NASA NTRS1981

Action spectra for photosynthetic inhibition

The ultraviolet action spectrum for photosynthesis inhibition was determined to fall between that of the general DNA action spectrum and the generalized plant action spectrum. The characteristics of this action spectrum suggest that a combination of pronounced increase in effectiveness with decreasing wavelength, substantial specificity for the UV-B waveband, and very diminished response in the UV-A waveband result in large radiation amplification factors when the action spectra are used as weighting functions. Attempted determination of dose/response relationships for leaf disc inhibition provided inconclusive data from which to deconvolute an action spectrum.

Caldwell, M. M.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Structure and dynamics of monsoon depressions: The Monex depression (July 1979)

Literature on monsoon formation is surveyed. Monsoon depressions over the Bay of Bengal are caused either by amplification of westward propagating weak disturbances or by downward propagation of the internal jet instability of the easterly jet. Barotropic instability of low level flow helps the growth of weak disturbances. Rapid growth of an already existing weak perturbation is due to CISK. If the disturbance attains adequate amplitude in the lower levels (either by downward propagation of wave energy of by CISK), the low level moisture convergence and latent heat of condensation are utilized more efficiently for the development of a vertically coupled deep disturbance, which along with upper level easterlies contributes to the westward propagation of the disturbance. Absence of strong vertical coupling leads to vertical tilt and decay of the disturbance.

Shukla, J.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Structure and dynamics of monsoon depressions: The Monex depression (July 1979)

The mechanisms for the formation and movement of monsoon depressions are discussed. The east-west oriented monsoon throughs which move north and south and appear over the Bay of Bengal and move northwest over India are examined. The mechanisms of formation and movement are summarized: (1) monsoon depressions over the Bay of Bengal are caused either by amplification of westward propagating weak disturbances or by downward propagation of the internal jet instability of the easterly jet; (2) the barotropic instability of the low level flow over the Bay of Bengal is conductive to the growth of weak disturbances; (3) the CISK is the primary driving mechanism for the rapid growth for a preexisting weak perturbation; and (4) once the disturbance has attained adequate amplitude in the lower levels, the low level moisture convergence and latent heat condensation is utilized more efficiently for the development of a vertically coupled deep disturbance which along with upper level easterlies contribute to the westward propagation of the disturbance.

Shukla, J.↗
NASA NTRS1981

On gravitational lenses and the cosmological evolution of quasars

A heuristic model for the effect of gravitational lenses on the apparent cosmological evolution of quasars is considered. The model satisfies the requirement of average flux conservation and has no net mean amplification. This requirement is shown to be numerically important in studying the effect. On the basis of the values of the evolution indicators calculated from the model, it is concluded that it is premature to assert that lensing plays an important role in affecting the apparent evolution. A qualitative, model independent observational test for the effect is suggested. The test estimates the distances where lensing is dominant. An application of this test to a complete sample of quasars indicates that lensing cannot completely account for the apparent evolution, except in an extreme situation.

Avni, Y.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Direct nuclear-pumped laser amplifier

A (He-3)-Xe gas mixture, excited by the He-3(n,p)H-3 reaction, has been employed to amplify the output of a (He-3)Xe direct nuclear-pumped laser. Lasing occurred at the 2.63 micron line of XeI in the oscillator. The oscillator output was reflected through 180 deg and passed through the amplifier system. Power measurements of the oscillator output and the amplifier output show the laser power to be amplified by a factor of 3 for the (He-3)-Xe system. Amplification by a factor of 5 was obtained for a (He-3)-CO system.

Jalufka, N. W.↗
NASA NTRS1981

The effect of temperature fluctuations of reaction rate constants in turbulent reacting flows

Current models of turbulent reacting flows frequently use Arrhenius reaction rate constants obtained from static or laminar flow theory and/or experiments, or from best fits of static, laminar, and turbulent data. By treating the reaction rate constant as a continuous random variable which is temperature-dependent, the present study assesses the effect of turbulent temperature fluctuations on the reaction rate constant. This model requires that a probability density function (PDF) describing the nature of the fluctuations be specified. Three PDFs are examined: the clipped Gaussian, the beta PDF, and the ramp model. All the models indicate that the reaction rate constant is greater in a turbulent flow field than in an equivalent laminar flow. In addition, an amplification ratio, which is the ratio of the turbulent rate constant to the laminar rate constant, is defined and its behavior as a function of the mean temperature fluctuations is described

Chinitz, W.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Scaling of the beam-plasma discharge

A theoretical analysis is presented of the scaling of the critical beam current required for ignition and the narrow band emissions observed for beam currents less than critical in a beam plasma discharge experiment. The theory of the two-stream interaction between a nonrelativistic cold electron beam and a plasma in the presence of a magnetic field is developed, and conditions for the two-stream instability and the resulting amplification are derived. It is shown that the experimentally observed scaling is consistent with the assumption that the ignition triggering occurs when an instability near the electron plasma frequency is excited. Finally, it is shown that the wave emissions observed in the subthreshold range can be explained by the excitation of the kinetic instability of the upper branch and convective saturation.

Rowland, H. L.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Infrared digital data analysis of severe storms and hurricanes from geosynchronous satellite

A severe storm in Louisiana on March 24, 1976 is considered, taking into account gravity wave observations made with the aid of a Doppler sounder array and remote sensing studies of the cloud top. Attention is also given to the Hurricane Frederic on September 12, 1979. A study which takes into account the observations regarding the gravity waves and the satellite observations of clouds associated with Hurricane Frederic shows that gravity waves were excited by overshooting turrets above the tropopause. The altitude of the turrets above the tropopause is an indication for the intensity of a cyclone, while the change in cloud top height provides an indication related to the amplification of hurricane intensity.

Hung, R. J.↗
NASA NTRS1982

High spatial resolution Mg/Al maps of the western Crisium and Sulpicius Gallus regions

High spatial resolution Mg/Al ratio maps of the western Crisium and Sulpicius Gallus regions of the moon are presented. The data is from the X-ray fluorescence experiment and the image enhancement technique in the Laplacian subtraction method using a special least-squares version of the Laplacian to reduce noise amplification. In the highlands region west of Mare Crisium several relatively small patches of smooth material have high local Mg/Al ratio similar to values found in mare sites, suggesting volcanism in the highlands. In the same highland region there were other smooth areas with no high Mg/Al local values and they are probably Cayley Formation material produced by impact mass wasting. The Sulpicius Gallus region has variable Mg/Al ratios. In this region there are several high Mg/Al ratio spots, two of which occur at the highland-mare interface. Another high Mg/Al ratio area corresponds to the Sulpicius Gallus Rima I region. The high Mg/Al ratio material in the Sulpicius Gallus region is probably pyroclastic.

Schonfeld, E.↗
NASA NTRS1982

Error propagation in the numerical solutions of the differential equations of orbital mechanics

The relationship between the eigenvalues of the linearized differential equations of orbital mechanics and the stability characteristics of numerical methods is presented. It is shown that the Cowell, Encke, and Encke formulation with an independent variable related to the eccentric anomaly all have a real positive eigenvalue when linearized about the initial conditions. The real positive eigenvalue causes an amplification of the error of the solution when used in conjunction with a numerical integration method. In contrast an element formulation has zero eigenvalues and is numerically stable.

Bond, V. R.↗