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At least 19 records

GRACE KBR and Accelerometer Data Reduction and Calibration

The Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE), launched on March 17, 2002, represents the state-of-the-art in geodetic observations of the static and time varying components of the Earth's geopotential field. The fundamental measurement used to observe gravity is the inter-satellite range and range rate between two coplanar, low altitude satellites obtained from a K-band ranging (KBR) system. In addition to the K-band ranging system, each satellite possess a Super-STAR Accelerometer, a GPS receiver/antenna package, Star Cameras and a Laser Retro Reflector (LRR) to complete the compliment of science instruments. The GRACE project has now released two years of Level 1B data derived from the science instruments and sensors. An integral component of our time variable gravity research is the reduction, calibration and analyses of these Level 1B data. In particular we have analyzed several months of K-band ranging (KBR1B), accelerometry (ACC1B) and GPS navigation (GNAV1B) data. Accelerometer calibration and KBR data reduction methodology and results will be presented. We discuss the impact of these analyses on the recovery of time variable gravity.

Rowlands, David D.↗

Materials Data on KBr by Materials Project

KBr is Halite, Rock Salt structured and crystallizes in the cubic Fm-3m space group. The structure is three-dimensional. K1+ is bonded to six equivalent Br1- atoms to form a mixture of edge and corner-sharing KBr6 octahedra. The corner-sharing octahedral tilt angles are 0°. All K–Br bond lengths are 3.35 Å. Br1- is bonded to six equivalent K1+ atoms to form a mixture of edge and corner-sharing BrK6 octahedra. The corner-sharing octahedral tilt angles are 0°.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Materials Data on KBr by Materials Project

KBr is Tetraauricupride structured and crystallizes in the cubic Pm-3m space group. The structure is three-dimensional. K1+ is bonded in a body-centered cubic geometry to eight equivalent Br1- atoms. All K–Br bond lengths are 3.50 Å. Br1- is bonded in a body-centered cubic geometry to eight equivalent K1+ atoms.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Method to derive the infrared complex refractive indices n(λ) and k(λ) for organic solids from KBr pellet absorption measurements

Obtaining the complex refractive index vectors $n($$\tilde{v})$ and $k($$\tilde{v})$ allows calculation of the (infrared) reflectance spectrum that is obtained from a solid in any of its many morphological forms. Here, we report an adaptation to the KBr pellet technique using two gravimetric dilutions to derive quantitative $n($$\tilde{v})$/$k($$\tilde{v})$ for dozens of powders with greater repeatability. The optical constants of bisphenol A and sucrose are compared to those derived by other methods, particularly for powdered materials. The variability of the $k$ values for bisphenol A was examined by 10 individual measurements, showing an average coefficient of variation for $k$ peak heights of 5.6%. Though no established standards exist, the pellet-derived $k$ peak values of bisphenol A differ by 11% and 31% from their single-angle- and ellipsometry-derived values, respectively. These values provide an initial estimate of the precision and accuracy of complex refractive indices that can be derived using this method. Limitations and advantages of the method are discussed, the salient advantage being a more rapid method to derive $n$/$k$ for those species that do not readily form crystals or specular pellets.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Mid-infrared reflectlance spectra (2.3-22 micions) of sulfur, gold, KBr, MgO, and halon

Biconical diffuse reflectance spectra in the mid-infrared are presented for powder and other solid forms of sulfur, gold, potassium bromide, magnesium oxide, and halon. Comparisons are made with previously published results of other investigators, and recommendations are made regarding the relative usefulnees of these materials as reflectance standards in the mid-IR. Sulfur has strong intrinsic bands at wavelengths greater than 7 microns that must be taken into account for its use as a reflectance standard. Some sulfur samples have hydrocarbon contaminants and in powder form may have adsorbed water, both of which produce bands in the 3-4-micron region. Potassium bromide has several weak intrinsic bands and is very sensitive to adsorbed water contamination; otherwise it is a good IR reference material. Magnesium oxide and halon have major bands structure and low reflectivity at wavelengths greater than 2.6 microns and thus are unsuitable as reference materials in the mid-IR. Vapor-deposited gold on fine sandpaper (600 grit) is very bright, spectrally flat, and fairly diffuse, so it is the superior material (of those examined) for reflectance reference material throughout the IR. Fine gold powder, on the other hand, is much less bright than evaporated gold, and its reflectivity at wavelengths greater than its particle size is highly sensitive to particle packing density.

Nash, D. B.↗

Time-Transfer System for Two Orbiting Spacecraft

A report describes the time-transfer system of the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE), in which information on the distribution of Earth mass is extracted from position and time measurements for two spacecraft about 200 km apart in a circular, nearly polar orbit. Each spacecraft carriers a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, a K/Ka-band ranging (KBR) instrument, and an ultra-stable oscillator (USO) that serves as a clock for the GPS and KBR units. The long-term errors of the USOs are cancelled by use of a technique, called dual-one-way phase measurements, in which the phases of the KBR signals from spacecraft A as measured at spacecraft B are added to the phases of the KBR signals from spacecraft B as measured at spacecraft A. GPS data are used to synchronize time between the USOs to within approximately 150 ps as needed to enable the dual-one-way phase measurements: For each spacecraft, the GPS data are used to solve for orbital positions, and the difference between the onboard clocks and a ground clock every 5 minutes. The relative clock rate between the spacecraft is then determined from the difference between the two solutions.

Bertiger, William↗

Insoluble organic material of the Orgueil carbonaceous chondrite and the unidentified infrared bands

Infrared spectra have been obtained of the acid insoluble residue, residue after heating in vacuum, and condensate of the Orgueil carbonaceous chondrite using an FTIR spectrometer. Bulk acid insoluble residue was pressed into KBr pellets and also heated under high vacuum to sublimate a volatile component onto KBr disks. The remaining nonvolatile organic component of the meteorite from such evaporations pressed into KBr pellets exhibits a spectral signature similar to that observed in emission from the Orion Nebula and found in Raman spectra of interplanetary dust particles. It also has an 11.3 micron band indicating polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) having single hydrogens per peripheral aromatic ring. It is concluded that the nonvolatile material is similar to interstellar PAHs since the observed 11.3 micron unidentified infrared emission suggests interstellar PAHs have single hydrogens per peripheral aromatic ring.

Wdowiak, Thomas J.↗

Gravitational Changes of the Earth's Free Oscillation From Earthquakes: Theory and Feasibility Study Using GRACE Inter‐Satellite Tracking

GRACE satellites have detected regional‐scale preseismic, coseismic, and postseismic gravity changes associated with great earthquakes during the GRACE era (2002‐2017). Earthquakes also excite global‐scale transient gravity changes associated with free oscillations that may be discerned for a few days. In this study, we examine such global gravity changes due to Earth's free oscillations and quantify how they affect GRACE measurements. We employ the normal mode formalism to synthesize the global gravity changes after the 2004 Sumatra earthquake and simulate the (gravitational) free oscillation signals manifested in the GRACE K‐band ranging (KBR) measurements. Using the Kaula orbit perturbation theory, we show how GRACE inter‐satellite distances are perturbed through a complex coupling of eigenfrequencies of the normal modes with the Earth's rotation rate and the GRACE satellites' orbital frequency. It is found that a few gravest normal modes can generate range‐rate perturbations as large as 0.2 μm/s, which are comparable to actual errors of GRACE KBR ranging and accelerometer instruments. Wavelet time‐frequency analysis of the GRACE KBR residual data in December 2004 reveals the existence of a significant transient signal after the 2004 Sumatra earthquake. This transient signal is characterized by a frequency of ~0.022 mHz that could be potentially associated with the largest excitation due to the “football” mode of the Earth's free oscillation. However, the results are also affected by low‐frequency noise of the GRACE accelerometers. Improved space‐borne gravitational instrumentation may open new opportunities to study the Earth's interior and earthquakes independently from global seismological analysis.

Ghobadi-Far, Khosro↗

Computational and experimental study of different brines in temperature swing solvent extraction desalination with amine solvents

Rapid global urbanization and high-salinity wastewater disposal from industrial activities have exerted significant pressure on water resources. Over the past few years, temperature swing solvent extraction (TSSE) has been identified as a promising technique to desalinate hypersaline brines. Despite its potential, the TSSE desalination literature has been mainly based on empirical insights, and the limited molecular simulation studies have primarily focused on NaCl brines. Herein, we use molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to study the TSSE desalination of four different brines, namely, KCl, KBr, NaCl, and NaBr using diisopropylamine as the solvent. Based on both bulk and interfacial brine-diisopropylamine MD results, here we investigate the qualitative and quantitative performance of the simulations by benchmarking these results against our experimental evaluations of these same systems. MD results provide satisfactory qualitative agreement with the experimental data of water solubilization in the organic phase and amine solubilization in the aqueous phase for the KBr, KCl, and NaBr brines. Also, the molecular mechanism of solvation of ionic species by water molecules over diisopropylamine suggested by the MD simulations is in agreement with our experimental data. However, larger qualitative and quantitative deviations were observed for the NaCl brines, and this is likely due to polarization and charge transfer effects, as quantified by our quantum chemical calculations.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Anti-polyelectrolyte and polyelectrolyte effects on conformations of polyzwitterionic chains in dilute aqueous solutions

Abstract Polyzwitterions (PZs) are considered as model synthetic analogs of intrinsically disordered proteins. Based on this analogy, PZs in dilute aqueous solutions are expected to attain either globular (i.e. molten, compact) or random coil conformations. Addition of salt is expected to open these conformations. To the best of our knowledge, these hypotheses about conformations of PZs have never been verified. In this study, we test these hypotheses by studying effects of added salt [potassium bromide (KBr)] on gyration and hydrodynamic radii of poly(sulfobetaine methacrylate) in dilute aqueous solutions using dynamic light scattering and small-angle X-ray scattering, respectively. Effects of zwitteration are revealed by direct comparisons of the PZs with the polymers of the same backbone but containing (1) no explicit charges on side groups such as poly(2-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate)s and (2) explicit cationic side groups with tertiary amino bromide pendants. Zeta-potential measurements, transmission electron microscopy, and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations reveal that the PZs acquire net positive charge in near salt-free conditions due to protonation but retain coiled conformations. Added KBr leads to nonmonotonic changes exhibiting an increase followed by a decrease in radius of gyration (and hydrodynamic radius), which are called antipolyelectrolyte and polyelectrolyte effects, respectively. Charge regulation and screening of charge–charge interactions are discussed in relation to the antipolyelectrolyte and polyelectrolyte effects, respectively, which highlight the importance of salt in affecting net charge and conformations of PZs.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Low fractional volume superconductivity in single crystals of Pr{sub 4}Ni{sub 3}O{sub 10} under pressure

Magnetotransport measurements of P⁢r4⁢N⁢i3⁢O10 single crystals performed under externally applied pressures up to 73 GPa in diamond anvil cells with either KBr or Nujol oil as pressure media yield signatures of superconductivity with a maximum onset temperature of approximately 31 K. True zero resistance was not observed, consistent with a nonpercolating superconducting volume fraction. Magnetization measurements provided corroborating evidence of superconductivity, with a pressure-dependent diamagnetic signal occurring below the onset temperature, and an estimate from the absolute value of the susceptibility suggests a superconducting volume fraction on the order of 10%. We observe sample to sample variations in the magnitude and pressure dependence of 𝑇𝑐 as well as a dependence on the configuration of electrical contacts on a given sample. Possible causes of this behavior may be significant inhomogeneities in the pressure and/or damage to the samples induced by the pressure media as well as inhomogeneities in the crystals themselves. The results imply that our as-grown P⁢r4⁢N⁢i3⁢O10 single crystals are not bulk superconductors but that there is a minority structure present within the crystals that is indeed superconductin

Chen, Xinglong↗

Standoff Detection of Oil and Powder Mixtures at 12 Meters Using a Tunable Quantum Cascade Laser-Based System with a Close Focus Telescope and Uncooled Infrared Detector

We have designed and demonstrated a quantum cascade laser (QCL) based standoff system that utilizes an uncooled mercury cadmium telluride (MCT) detector with lock-in signal processing for chemical identification at a distance of 12.5 meters in indoor ambient light conditions. In the system, a tunable quad-QCL operating (1 MHz) in quasi-continuous wave mode between 8.45 and 10.03 μm (~1182 to 1000 cm –1 ) serves as the active mid-infrared source for remotely interrogating mineral, powder, and thin film oil samples including powder mixtures (6, 12.5, 25, and 50%) of crystalline quartz (SiO 2 ) in KBr. Light as reflected from a given sample is collected using a 10-inch (25.4 cm) Dall Kirkham telescope and coupled with ZnSe optics to an uncooled MCT detector. Furthermore, the mixture dependence of the highly transparent KBr and strongly absorbing quartz was found to fit a modified version of the Schatz reflectance model for compacted powder mixtures. All reflectance spectra reported are relative to an Au-coated diffuse reflector. A NIST traceable polystyrene standard reflector was also used to determine the QCL wavelength tuning range and calibration.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗