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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 19 records

Analysis of depolarization ratios of ClNO{sub 2} dissolved in methanol

A detailed analysis of the resonance Raman depolarization ratio dispersion curve for the N–O symmetric stretch of nitryl chloride in methanol at excitation wavelengths spanning the D absorption band is presented. The depolarization ratios are modeled using the time-dependent formalism for Raman scattering with contributions from two excited states (2{sup 1}A{sub 1} and 3{sup 1}B{sub 1}), which are taken as linearly dissociative along the Cl–N coordinate. The analysis focuses on the interplay between different types of broadening revealing the importance of inhomogenous broadening in determining the relative contributions of the two electronic transitions. We find that the transition dipole moment (M) for 2{sup 1}A{sub 1} is greater than for 3{sup 1}B{sub 1}, in agreement with gas phase calculations in the literature [A. Lesar, M. Hdoscek, M. Muhlhauser, and S. D. Peyerimhoff, Chem. Phys. Lett. 383, 84 (2004)]. However, we find that the polarity of the solvent influences the excited state energetics, leading to a reversal in the ordering of these two states with 3{sup 1}B{sub 1} shifting to lower energies. Molecular dynamics simulations along with linear response and ab initio calculations support the evidence extracted from resonance Raman intensity analysis, providing insights on ClNO{sub 2} electronic structure, solvation effects in methanol, and the source of broadening, emphasizing the importance of a contribution from inhomogeneous linewidth.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

A Depolarization and Attenuation Experiment Using the CTS and COMSTAR Satellites. Mathematical Formulations and Definitions for Dual Polarized Reception of a Wave Passing Through a Depolarizing Medium (A Polarization Primer)

The theoretical fundamentals and mathematical definitions for calculations involved with dual polarized radio links are given. Detailed derivations and results are discussed for several formulations applied to a general dual polarized radio link.

Stutzman, W. L.↗

Airborne High Spectral Resolution Lidar-2 Measurements of Enhanced Depolarization in Marine Aerosols

Airborne NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) High Spectral Resolution Lidar-2 (HSRL-2) measurements acquired during the recent NASA EVS-3 Aerosol Cloud Meteorology Interactions over the Western Atlantic Experiment (ACTIVATE) revealed enhanced particulate linear depolarization associated with aerosols within the marine boundary layer. These HSRL-2 observations were acquired off the east coast of the United States in February and March 2020 when this lidar was deployed on the NASA LaRC UC-12 aircraft. HSRL-2 measured profiles of aerosol backscattering, extinction,and depolarization at 355 and 532nm and aerosol backscattering and depolarization at 1064nm. Typically HSRL-2 measures low (<5%) linear particulate depolarization associated with marine sea salt aerosols. However, during several ACTIVATE flights, particularly those that occurred with outbreaks of cold, dry air, linear particulate depolarization exceeded 15-20% (532nm) for aerosols within a few hundred meters above the surface. These high values indicated that these particles were nonspherical. Elevated depolarization values were also observed at 355 and 1064 nm. HSRL-2 measured aerosol extinction/backscatter ratio (“lidar ratio”) values around 20-25 sr (355 and 532 nm) that are typically associated with sea salt particles. Coincident measurements of relative humidity from dropsondes released from the UC-12and in situ Diode Laser Hygrometer (DLH) measurements flown on the NASA HU-25 aircraft showed that highest depolarization values of these nonspherical particles were found when the relative humidity (RH)was below 50-60%.These lidar observations of elevated depolarization associated with sea salt aerosol are consistent with previous lidar measurements of sea salt aerosols in dry conditions. We discuss these HSRL-2 measurements also in the context of coincident airborne in situ measurements of particle size and composition acquired on the HU-25 aircraft. We also found that CALIOP satellite measurements observed elevated depolarization during some similar cold air outbreaks. In such cases, the operational CALIOP algorithms attributed the elevated depolarization to nonspherical dust particles rather than the more likely scenario of nonspherical sea salt particles associated with low RH.

aerosols↗

Semiconductor/relaxor 0–3 type composites without thermal depolarization in Bi 0.5 Na 0.5 TiO 3 -based lead-free piezoceramics

Commercial lead-based piezoelectric materials raised worldwide environmental concerns in the past decade. Bi 0.5 Na 0.5 TiO 3 -based solid solution is among the most promising lead-free piezoelectric candidates; however, depolarization of these solid solutions is a longstanding obstacle for their practical applications. Here we use a strategy to defer the thermal depolarization, even render depolarization-free Bi 0.5 Na 0.5 TiO 3 -based 0–3-type composites. This is achieved by introducing semiconducting ZnO particles into the relaxor ferroelectric 0.94Bi 0.5 Na 0.5 TiO 3 –0.06BaTiO 3 matrix. The depolarization temperature increases with increasing ZnO concentration until depolarization disappears at 30 mol% ZnO. The semiconducting nature of ZnO provides charges to partially compensate the ferroelectric depolarization field. These results not only pave the way for applications of Bi 0.5 Na 0.5 TiO 3 -based piezoceramics, but also have great impact on the understanding of the mechanism of depolarization so as to provide a new design to optimize the performance of lead-free piezoelectrics.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Ice-cloud depolarization of backscatter for CO2 and other infrared lidars

The depolarization of backscatter from ice particles at the CO2 lidar wavelength of 10.59 microns was investigated through field measurements, with simultanous depolarization measurements taken at 0.6943 micron for comparison. The depolarization ratio at the infrared wavelength was usually at or below the lidar's sensitivity limit of 0.01, which is dramatically smaller than the typical 0.5 linear depolarization ratio for short-wave lidars. This behavior is explained by the strong absorption of ice at the infrared wavelength. Depolarization measurements at a 10.59-micron wavelength cannot discriminate between ice and water clouds in the manner of short-wave lidars. A possibility exists for more prominent depolarization at shorter CO2 lidar wavelengths, but additional research is required. Depolarization at the 2.09-micron wavelength is predicted to be substantial and useful for hydrometeor observations.

Eberhard, Wynn L.↗

An Analysis of Depolarization Streaks for Anticipating Lightning in Thundersnow

Infrequent lightning events, particularly in stratiform precipitation, present a unique decision-support challenge to National Weather Service (NWS) forecasters and core partners. Anticipating thundersnow events, which are rare compared to warm season lightning, are especially difficult to anticipate due to slanted updrafts within the comma-head region of a mid-latitude cyclone. Researchers and operational forecasters have observed depolarization streaks in differential reflectivity (ZDR) as a result of ice crystal layers prior to thundersnow initiation. These depolarization streaks form as a result of ice crystals aligning themselves with enhancements in the electric field in stratiform precipitation and are associated with ZDR values near zero. During the 7 March 2018 winter storm, a teacher in New Jersey was struck by lightning while dismissing students and depolarization streaks were observed in weather radar observations. Therefore, it is advantageous to examine depolarization streaks in ZDR to determine whether it can be used to anticipate lightning potential in winter-time events. Multiple events will be analyzed using the National Lightning Detection Network (NLDN) and the Geostationary Lightning Mapper (GLM) to determine if thundersnow flashes coincide with ZDR depolarization streaks in weather radars. This study also expands on collaboration between the NWS Huntsville Forecast Office and NASA Short-term Prediction Research and Transition (SPoRT) program to determine how depolarization streaks can be used operationally to anticipate lightning within stratiform regions. Preliminary work has indicated noticeable potential in correlating depolarization streak as a precursor to thundersnow flashes in a variety of geographical regions.

Autumn Millard↗

Depolarization of an uncollimated laser beam in a turbulent medium

The depolarization of a beam wave, with Gaussian intensity distribution and arbitrary divergence, propagating in a turbulent medium is considered. The correlation function of the depolarized component of the beam is determined. The mean-square depolarization fluctuation is then determined for a medium characterized by a Kolmogorov spectrum. If the beam is assumed to be collimated, this expression reduces to that of Collett and Alferness; if the plane-wave limiting case of the Gaussian beam is taken, the results in this paper agree with those of Strohbehn. The results show that off the beam axis the depolarization can be greater than for the plane wave, and that near the beam focal point the depolarization may decrease by orders of magnitude.

Chang, F. C.↗

Design and analysis of a depolarizer for the NASA moderate resolution imaging spectrometer-tilt (MODIS-T)

The design and analysis of a depolarizer for the NASA MODIS-T spectrometer is presented. The theory of spatial pseudodepolarizer operation and its effect on linear polarization sensitivity is described. Details of the HV depolarizer design and issues of depolarizer location and material are discussed. The image doubling and aberrations induced by the depolarizer and the trade-offs between increased polarization performance and decreased image quality are also addressed. The issues considered apply directly to depolarizer design for other remote sensing instruments.

Mcclain, Stephen C.↗

Mechanism of blue-light-induced plasma-membrane depolarization in etiolated cucumber hypocotyls

A large, transient depolarization of the plasma membrane precedes the rapid blue-light (BL)-induced growth suppression in etiolated seedlings of Cucumis sativus L. The mechanism of this voltage transient was investigated by applying inhibitors of ion channels and the plasma-membrane H(+)-ATPase, by manipulating extracellular ion concentrations, and by measuring cell input resistance and ATP levels. The depolarizing phase was not affected by Ca(2+)-channel blockers (verapamil, La3+) or by reducing extracellular free Ca2+ by treatment with ethylene glycol-bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA). However, these treatments did reduce the rate of repolarization, indicating an inward movement of Ca2+ is involved. No effects of the K(+)-channel blocker tetraethylammonium (TEA+) were detected. Vanadate and KCN, used to inhibit the H(+)-ATPase, reduced or completely inhibited the BL-induced depolarization. Levels of ATP increased by 11-26% after 1-2 min of BL. Input resistance of trichrome cells, measured with double-barreled microelectrodes, remained constant during the onset of the depolarization but decreased as the membrane voltage became more positive than -90 mV. The results indicate that the depolarization mechanism initially involves inactivation of the H(+)-ATPase with subsequent transient activation of one or more types of ion channels.

NASA Program Space Biology↗

Thermal stress-induced depolarization compensation in wide-bandwidth, high-energy, high-repetition-rate multi-slab laser amplifiers

We present an innovative design for a two-head, gas-cooled multi-slab high-energy, high-repetition-rate amplifier aimed at mitigating thermally induced depolarization in a wide-bandwidth neodymium-doped glass gain medium. This architecture employs two quartz rotators (QRs) with opposite-handedness, strategically positioned within each multi-slab amplifier head, to enhance depolarization compensation. Theoretical modeling of this amplifier configuration demonstrates a 20× reduction in depolarization losses for a 70 mm beam operating at the central wavelength, compared to conventional approaches that utilize a single QR positioned between the amplifier heads. In addition, for a wide bandwidth source, the integration of QRs with opposite-handedness yields a 9× improvement in depolarization losses at the spectral extremes compared to the use of two QRs exhibiting the same optical handedness in both amplifier heads.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

The collisional depolarization of OH(A {sup 2}Σ{sup +}) and NO(A {sup 2}Σ{sup +}) with Kr

Quantum beat spectroscopy has been used to measure rate coefficients at 300 K for collisional depolarization for NO(A {sup 2}Σ{sup +}) and OH(A {sup 2}Σ{sup +}) with krypton. Elastic depolarization rate coefficients have also been determined for OH(A) + Kr, and shown to make a much more significant contribution to the total depolarization rate than for NO(A) + Kr. While the experimental data for NO(A) + Kr are in excellent agreement with single surface quasiclassical trajectory (QCT) calculations carried out on the upper 2A{sup ′} potential energy surface, the equivalent QCT and quantum mechanical calculations cannot account for the experimental results for OH(A) + Kr collisions, particularly at low N. This disagreement is due to the presence of competing electronic quenching at low N, which requires a multi-surface, non-adiabatic treatment. Somewhat improved agreement with experiment is obtained by means of trajectory surface hopping calculations that include non-adiabatic coupling between the ground 1A{sup ′} and excited 2A{sup ′} states of OH(X/A) + Kr, although the theoretical depolarization cross sections still significantly overestimate those obtained experimentally.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

Depolarization mechanisms of PbZr{sub 0.52}Ti{sub 0.48}O{sub 3} and PbZr{sub 0.95}Ti{sub 0.05}O{sub 3} poled ferroelectrics under high strain rate loading

Stress-induced and thermal-induced depolarization studies along with X-ray diffraction were performed on lead zirconate titanate ferroelectrics of different compositions, PbZr{sub 0.52}Ti{sub 0.48}O{sub 3} (PZT 52/48) and PbZr{sub 0.95}Ti{sub 0.05}O{sub 3} (PZT 95/5). Specimens were shock loaded perpendicular to the polarization vector. It was found that the polarity of the stress-induced charge released by PZT 52/48 and 95/5 was opposite to the polarity of the charge generated due to the piezoelectric effect. PZT 52/48 was only partially (45%) depolarized under 1.5 ± 0.1 GPa mechanical compression, as opposed to PZT 95/5 which was fully depolarized. The experimental results indicate that the stress-induced depolarization mechanisms are different for these two compositions. PZT 52/48 is transformed to a state with lower polarization, while PZT 95/5 undergoes a phase transition to a non-polar antiferroelectric phase.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Can Turbulence Dominate Depolarization of Optical Blazars?

We carefully examine the depolarization feature of blazars in the optical and near-infrared bands using the sample of Mead et al. Magnetohydrodynamics turbulence could be one possible reason for the depolarization of optical/infrared blazars when we apply the theoretical analysis of Lazarian and Pogosyan. We further identify in the sample that the depolarization results shown in most blazars roughly obey the form of the three-dimensional anisotropic Kolmogorov scaling. The effective Faraday rotation window length scale is not small enough to resolve the polarization correlation length scale in the blazar sample. The depolarization and the related turbulent features show diversities in different blazar sources. We suggest more simultaneous observations in both the optical/infrared and the high-energy bands for the study of the blazar polarization.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Mitochondrial aquaporin-8 knockdown in human hepatoma HepG2 cells causes ROS-induced mitochondrial depolarization and loss of viability

Human aquaporin-8 (AQP8) channels facilitate the diffusional transport of H{sub 2}O{sub 2} across membranes. Since AQP8 is expressed in hepatic inner mitochondrial membranes, we studied whether mitochondrial AQP8 (mtAQP8) knockdown in human hepatoma HepG2 cells impairs mitochondrial H{sub 2}O{sub 2} release, which may lead to organelle dysfunction and cell death. We confirmed AQP8 expression in HepG2 inner mitochondrial membranes and found that 72 h after cell transfection with siRNAs targeting two different regions of the human AQP8 molecule, mtAQP8 protein specifically decreased by around 60% (p < 0.05). Studies in isolated mtAQP8-knockdown mitochondria showed that H{sub 2}O{sub 2} release, assessed by Amplex Red, was reduced by about 45% (p < 0.05), an effect not observed in digitonin-permeabilized mitochondria. mtAQP8-knockdown cells showed an increase in mitochondrial ROS, assessed by dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (+ 120%, p < 0.05) and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (− 80%, p < 0.05), assessed by tetramethylrhodamine-coupled quantitative fluorescence microscopy. The mitochondria-targeted antioxidant MitoTempol prevented ROS accumulation and dissipation of mitochondrial membrane potential. Cyclosporin A, a mitochondrial permeability transition pore blocker, also abolished the mtAQP8 knockdown-induced mitochondrial depolarization. Besides, the loss of viability in mtAQP8 knockdown cells verified by MTT assay, LDH leakage, and trypan blue exclusion test could be prevented by cyclosporin A. Our data on human hepatoma HepG2 cells suggest that mtAQP8 facilitates mitochondrial H{sub 2}O{sub 2} release and that its defective expression causes ROS-induced mitochondrial depolarization via the mitochondrial permeability transition mechanism, and cell death. -- Highlights: ► Aquaporin-8 is expressed in mitochondria of human hepatoma HepG2 cells. ► Aquaporin-8 knockdown impairs mitochondrial H{sub 2}O{sub 2} release and increases ROS. ► Aquaporin-8 knockdown causes ROS-induced mitochondrial depolarization and cell death. ► Mitochondrial permeability transition blockage prevents depolarization and cell death.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Depolarizing collisions with hydrogen: Neutral and singly ionized alkaline earths

Depolarizing collisions are elastic or quasielastic collisions that equalize the populations and destroy the coherence between the magnetic sublevels of atomic levels. In astrophysical plasmas, the main depolarizing collider is neutral hydrogen. We consider depolarizing rates on the lowest levels of neutral and singly ionized alkali earths Mg I, Sr I, Ba I, Mg II, Ca II, and Ba II, due to collisions with H°. We compute ab initio potential curves of the atom-H° system and solve the quantum mechanical dynamics. From the scattering amplitudes, we calculate the depolarizing rates for Maxwellian distributions of colliders at temperatures T ≤ 10,000 K. A comparative analysis of our results and previous calculations in the literature is completed. We discuss the effect of these rates on the formation of scattering polarization patterns of resonant lines of alkali earths in the solar atmosphere, and their effect on Hanle effect diagnostics of solar magnetic fields.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗