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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
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1970

The far field diffraction pattern for corner reflectors with complex reflection coefficients

The far field diffraction pattern of a geometrically perfect corner reflector is examined analytically for normally incident monochromatic light. The states of polarization and the complex amplitudes of the emerging light are expressed through transformation matrices in terms of those of the original incident light for each sextant of the face in a single coordinate system. The analytic expression of the total diffraction pattern is obtained for a circular face. This expression consists of three component functions in addition to the basic Airy function. The coefficient of each function is expressed in terms of complex coefficients of reflectance of the reflecting surface. Some numerical results for different reflecting surfaces, including total internal reflection, are presented. The iso-intensity contours of the diffraction pattern evaluated from the analytical expressions for an uncoated solid corner reflector are also presented along with the photographs of the pattern.

Chang, R. F.↗
NASA NTRS2018

Evaluation of X-Ray Reflectors by Optical Diffraction Patterns

Performance of X-ray reflectors affects that of X-ray mirrors. Modern X-ray mirrors have thousands of reflectors to gain large effective area. Evaluation of the reflectors is an important process in production of the mirrors. A diffraction pattern dominates reflector image when the parallel optical beam illuminates the reflector along its optical axis because the reflectors are used at grazing incident angles of around 1 deg and their effective width are 1–10 mm. A diffraction pattern from the entire reflector surface can be acquired at once with the aid of a lens. The diffraction pattern holds information of the surface profiles of the reflectors. To quantitatively evaluate the reflectors with the diffraction pattern, we created a diffraction pattern model by the wave optics with the ideal surface profile and fitted it to data. As a result, a correlation between fitting residual and the normal vector distribution of the surface profile was found. With our method, the reflectors can be evaluated and sorted out more efficiently.

Hayashi, Takayuki↗
NASA NTRS1984

Interpretation and modeling of quasiperiodic diffraction patterns observed in equatorial VHF scintillation due to plasma bubbles

Quasiperiodic diffraction patterns have been observed in VHF scintillation recorded at Ascension Island in 1981. The patterns occur most often at the beginning or end of a scintillation patch and are shown to be consistent with those expected from irregularities having east-west scale sizes of a few hundred meters that are associated with the walls (edges) of equatorial plasma bubbles. By adjusting the geophysical parameters in a computer simulation of the amplitude fluctuations expected simultaneously at VHF, L-Band and C-Band, we model a specific event in detail. The model contains information on the size and strength of the structures that cause the regular fading patterns. In addition, multi-frequency diffraction patterns are computed for a 'phase screen' model based on high resolution measurements of a structured plasma bubble wall made using the AE-E satellite. The results are qualitatively very similar to the observations. Finally, implications of the model results for the extraction of information about the vertical structure of the irregularities are discussed.

Franke, S. J.↗
NASA NTRS1971

Noise diffraction patterns eliminated in coherent optical systems

Lens rotation technique of noise diffraction pattern elimination spreads diffracted energy, normally concentrated over small area of image, over much larger annular area. Technique advantages include simplified lens selecting process, reduced clean room requirements, and low cost equipment requirements.

Grebowsky, G. R.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Speckle in the diffraction patterns of Hendricks-Teller and icosahedral glass models

It is shown that the X-ray diffraction patterns from the Hendricks-Teller model for layered systems and the icosahedral glass models for the icosahedral phases show large fluctuations between nearby scattering wave vectors and from sample to sample, that are quite analogous to laser speckle. The statistics of these fluctuations are studied analytically for the first model and via computer simulations for the second. The observability of these effects is discussed briefly.

Garg, Anupam↗
NASA NTRS2013

The First X-ray Diffraction Patterns of Clay Minerals from Gale Crater

The Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Rover, Curiosity spent approx 150 sols at Yellowknife Bay (YKB) studying a section of fluvio-lacustrine sedimentary rocks (with potential indications of volcanic influence), informally known as the Yellowknife Bay formation. YKB lies in a distal region of the Peace Vallis alluvial fan, which extends from the northern rim of Gale Crater toward the dune field at the base of Mt Sharp. Sedimentological and stratigraphic observations are consistent with the Yellowknife Bay formation being part of a distal fan deposit, which could be as young as middle Hesperian to even early Amazonian in age (approx 3.5 to 2.5 Ga). The Yellowknife Bay formation hosts a unit of mudstone called the Sheepbed member. Curiosity obtained powdered rock samples from two drill holes in the Sheepbed Member, named John Klein and Cumberland, and delivered them to instruments in Curiosity. Data from CheMin, a combined X-ray diffraction (XRD)/X-ray fluorescence instrument (XRF), has allowed detailed mineralogical analysis of mudstone powders revealing a clay mineral component of approx 20 wt.% in each sample. The clay minerals are important indicators of paleoenvironmental conditions and sensitive recorders of post-depositional alteration processes. The XRD pattern of John Klein reveals a 021 band consistent with a trioctahedral phyllosilicate. A broad peak at approx 10A with a slight inflexion at approx 12A indicates the presence of 2:1 type clay minerals in the John Klein sample. The trioctahedral nature of the clay minerals, breadth of the basal reflection, and presence of a minor component with larger basal spacing suggests that John Klein contains a trioctahedral smectite (probably saponite), whose interlayer is largely collapsed because of the low-humidity conditions. The XRD patterns show no evidence of corrensite (mixed-layer chlorite/smectite) or chlorite, which are typical diagenetic products of trioctahedral smectites when subjected to burial and heating >60degC in the presence of water. Given estimated geothermal gradients on Mars temperatures <60 degC might still be consistent with (but do not require) moderate burial. However, our ability to identify interstratified minerals is greatly limited by the lack of access to traditional treatments methods used in the lab (e.g., ethylene glycol solvation). Our preferred explanation for the origin of trioctahedral smectites in Sheepbed mudstone is in situ production via reaction of olivine, water and Si-bearing amorphous material, an important mudstone component detected by XRD. Elevated levels of magnetite in the Sheepbed and the trioctahedral monomineralic nature of the clay minerals support this model. These observations, combined with previous studies of olivine stability, support the persistence of circum-neutral hydrous conditions for thousands of years at YKB.

Bristow, Thomas↗
NASA NTRS1981

Real-time observation of X-ray diffraction patterns with the Lixiscope

The feasibility of the Lixiscope (Low Intensity X-ray Imaging Scope) is demonstrated for real-time observation of transmission Laue patterns. Making use of the high-gain capability of microchannel plate (MCP) visible-light image intensifier tubes, X-ray images are converted to visible-light images by a scintillator. Pb discs are taped to the center of the Lixiscope input face, and crystal samples are held on a goniometer stage with modeling clay. With a compact size to facilitate off axis viewing, and real-time viewing to allow instantaneous response, the Lixiscope may prove useful in dynamic studies of the effects of plastic flows, stresses, high pressures, and low temperatures.

Chung, D. Y.↗
NASA NTRS1983

The structure of boron in boron fibres

The structure of noncrystalline, chemically vapour-deposited boron fibres was investigated by computer modelling the experimentally obtained X-ray diffraction patterns. The diffraction patterns from the models were computed using the Debye scattering equation. The modelling was done utilizing the minimum nearest-neighbour distance, the density of the model, and the broadening and relative intensity of the various peaks as boundary conditions. The results suggest that the fibres consist of a continuous network of randomly oriented regions of local atomic order, about 2 nm in diameter, containing boron atoms arranged in icosahedra. Approximately half of these regions have a tetragonal structure and the remaining half a distorted rhombohedral structure. The model also indicates the presence of many partial icosahedra and loose atoms not associated with any icosahedra. The partial icosahedra and loose atoms indicated in the present model are in agreement with the relaxing sub-units which have been suggested to explain the anelastic behavior of fibre boron and the loosely bound boron atoms which have been postulated to explain the strengthening mechanism in boron fibres during thermal treatment.

Bhardwaj, J.↗
NASA NTRS2008

Laser fresnel distance measuring system and method

A method and system for determining range to a target are provided. A beam of electromagnetic energy is transmitted through an aperture in an opaque screen such that a portion of the beam passes through the aperture to generate a region of diffraction that varies as a function of distance from the aperture. An imaging system is focused on a target plane in the region of diffraction with the generated image being compared to known diffraction patterns. Each known diffraction pattern has a unique value associated therewith that is indicative of a distance from the aperture. A match between the generated image and at least one of the known diffraction patterns is indicative of a distance between the aperture and target plane.

Campbell, Jonathan W.↗
NASA NTRS2002

Effect of the Chemical State of the Surface on the Relaxation of the Surface Shell Atoms in SiC and GaN Nanocrystals

The effect of the chemical state of the surface of nanoparticles on the relaxation in the near-surface layer was examined using the concept of the apparent lattice parameter (alp) determined for different diffraction vectors Q. The apparent lattice parameter is a lattice parameter determined either from an individual Bragg reflection, or from a selected region of the diffraction pattern. At low diffraction vectors the Bragg peak positions are affected mainly by the structure of the near-surface layer, while at high Q-values only the interior of the nano-grain contributes to the diffraction pattern. Following the measurements on raw (as prepared) powders we investigated powders cleaned by annealing at 400C under vacuum, and the same powders wetted with water. Theoretical alp-Q plots showed that the structure of the surface layer depends on the sample treatment. Semi-quantitative analysis based on the comparison of the experimental and theoretical alp-Q plots was performed. Theoretical alp-Q relations were obtained from the diffraction patterns calculated for models of nanocrystals with a strained surface layer using the Debye functions.

Palosz, B.↗
NASA NTRS2015

Transmission X-ray Diffraction (XRD) Patterns Relevant to the MSL Chemin Amorphous Component: Sulfates And Silicates

The Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) CheMin instrument on the Curiosity rover is a transmission X-ray diffractometer (Co-Kalpha radiation source and a approx.5deg to approx.52deg 2theta range) where the analyzed powder samples are constrained to have discrete particle diameters <150 microns by a sieve. To date, diffraction patterns have been obtained for one basaltic soil (Rocknest (RN)) and four drill fines of coherent rock (John Klein (JK), Cumberland (CB), Windjana (WJ), and Confidence Hills (CH)). The CheMin instrument has detected and quantified the abundance of both primary igneous (e.g., feldspar, olivine, and pyroxene) and secondary (e.g., Ca-sulfates, hematite, akaganeite, and Fe-saponite) minerals. The diffraction patterns of all CheMin samples are also characterized by a broad diffraction band centered near 30deg 2theta and by increasing diffraction intensity (scattering continuum) from approx.15deg to approx.5deg, the 2theta minimum. Both the broad band and the scattering continuum are attributed to the presence of an XRD amorphous component. Estimates of amorphous component abundance, based on the XRD data itself and on mass-balance calculations using APXS data crystalline component chemistry derived from XRD data, martian meteorites, and/or stoichiometry [e.g., 6-9], range from approx.20 wt.% to approx.50 wt.% of bulk sample. The APXSbased calculations show that the amorphous component is rich in volatile elements (esp. SO3) and is not simply primary basaltic glass, which was used as a surrogate to model the broad band in the RN CheMin pattern. For RN, the entire volatile inventory (except minor anhydrite) is assigned to the amorphous component because no volatile-bearing crystalline phases were reported within detection limits [2]. For JK and CB, Fesaponite, basanite, and akaganeite are volatile-bearing crystalline components. Here we report transmission XRD patterns for sulfate and silicate phases relevant to interpretation of MSL-CheMin XRD amorphous components.

Morris, R. V.↗