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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 NTRS1966

The neutron flux in space following a polar cap neutron event on November 15, 1960

A neutron detector flown on an Atlas pod during the 15 November 1960 solar event measured a larger neutron flux than another detector flown on a similar vehicle during a quiet solar period. The excess neutron flux at low latitudes obtained by comparing these two measurements is about an order of magnitude higher than expected from the neutron production in the atmosphere by solar protons as deduced from Lingenfelter's calculations and Webber's model for the 15 November event. It is suggested that most of the discrepancy can be accounted for by considering neutron production by energetic solar alpha particles and lowered geomagnetic cutoffs.

NEUTRON FLUX↗
NASA NTRS2004

Mars: The Terra Arabia Low Epithermal Neutron Flux Anomaly

The High Energy Neutron Spectrometer (HEND) and Neutron Specrometer, part of the Mars Odyssey Gamma Ray Spectrometer suite of instruments, measured anomalously low epithermal neutron flux in two low-latitude areas, Terra Arabia and SW of Olympus Mons (SWOM). The low epithermal neutron flux, an indirect measure of Hydrogen abundance, is indicative of relatively high water content (in this case up to 8 mass percent) in the upper 1-2 m of the surface layer. The epithermal flux within the 60 degree latitude zone does not correlate with bedrock geology or topography but partially correlates (for Arabia) with thermal inertia. According to theoretical estimates for the current geologic epoch, ground ice should not be stable at this depth at these low latitudes so it was concluded that the anomalies are due to the presence of chemically bound water (e.g. clays, hydroxides or hydrosalts). Fast neutron flux, which is indicative of the presence of water at 20-30 cm depth, does not correlate in this latitude zone with the epithermal neutron flux. As a further step of the analysis a geotraverse including study of 152 high resolution MOC images within the Arabia anomaly was done by to find out if the area inside the anomaly differs from the neighboring areas by the presence of fluvial channels and layered deposits (possible links to chemically bound water) or in thickness and apparent texture of the surface layer. No differences were found.

Basilevsky, A. T.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Spacecraft-produced neutron fluxes on Skylab

Estimates of neutron fluxes in different energy ranges are reported for the Skylab spacecraft. Detectors composed of uranium, thorium, and bismuth foils with mica as a fission track recorder, as well as boron foils with cellulose acetate as an alpha-particle recorder, were deployed at different positions in the Orbital Workshop. It was found that the Skylab neutron flux was dominated by high energy (greater than 1 MeV) contributions and that there was no significant time variation in the fluxes. Firm upper limits of 7-15 neutrons/sq cm-sec, depending on the detector location in the spacecraft, were established for fluxes above 1 MeV. Below 1 MeV, the neutron fluxes were about an order of magnitude lower. The neutrons are interpreted as originating from the interactions of leakage protons from the radiation belt with the spacecraft.

Quist, T. C.↗
NASA NTRS1963

FAST-NEUTRON FLUX IN THE ATMOSPHERE

Neutron flux between one and ten mev from sea level to balloon altitudes, recorded by fast neutron detector insensitive to other radiation

NEUTRON FLUX↗
NASA NTRS1975

Measurement of spectra and neutron fluxes on artificial earth satellites from the Cosmos series

In 1966-1967 measurements were carried out at the altitudes of 200 to 400 km to determine the spectra and fluxes of fast neutrons inside the hermetically sealed artificial earth satellites of the Cosmos series. The detectors used were nuclear emulsions of the B9 and BR types and an emulsion of the P9 type, filled with Li and P. Spectra and fluxes of neutrons in the range of energies from thermal energies to 10 MeV are presented. Neutron doses are also estimated.

Dudkin, V. Y.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Calculations of neutron flux spectra induced in the earth's atmosphere by galactic cosmic rays

Calculations have been carried out to determine the neutron flux induced in the earth's atmosphere by galactic protons and alpha particles at solar minimum for a geomagnetic latitude of 42 N. Neutron flux spectra were calculated using Monte Carlo and discrete ordinates methods, and various comparisons with experimental data are presented. The magnitude and shape of the calculated neutron-leakage spectrum at the particular latitude considered support the theory that the cosmic-ray-albedo-neutron-decay mechanism is the source of the protons and electrons trapped in the Van Allen belts.

Armstrong, T. W.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Calculations of neutron flux spectra induced in the earth's atmosphere by galactic cosmic rays.

Calculations have been carried out to determine the neutron flux induced in the earth's atmosphere by galactic protons and alpha particles at solar minimum for a geomagnetic latitude of 42 N. Neutron flux spectra in the energy range from about 10 to the minus 8th to about 100,000 MeV at various depths in the atmosphere were calculated by using Monte Carlo and discrete ordinates methods, and various comparisons with experimental data are presented. The magnitude and shape of the calculated neutron leakage spectrum at the particular latitude considered support the theory that the cosmic ray albedo neutron decay (Crand) mechanism is the source of the protons trapped in the inner radiation belt.

Armstrong, T. W.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Gravitational effects on planetary neutron flux spectra

The effects of gravity on the planetary neutron flux spectra for planet Mars, and the lifetime of the neutron, were investigated using a modified one-dimensional diffusion accelerated neutral-particle transport code, coupled with a multigroup cross-section library tailored specifically for Mars. The results showed the presence of a qualitatively new feature in planetary neutron leakage spectra in the form of a component of returning neutrons with kinetic energies less than the gravitational binding energy (0.132 eV for Mars). The net effect is an enhancement in flux at the lowest energies that is largest at and above the outermost layer of planetary matter.

Feldman, W. C.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Upper limit to the 1-20 MeV solar neutron flux.

The upper limit on the quiet time solar neutron flux from 1 to 20 MeV has been measured to be less than .002 neutrons at the 95% confidence level. This result is deduced from the OGO-6 neutron detector measurements of the 'day-night' effect near the equator at low altitudes for the period from June 7 to Dec. 23, 1969. The OGO-6 detector had very low (less than 4%) counting rate contributions from locally produced neutrons in the detecting system and the spacecraft and from charged-particle interactions in the neutron sensor.

Lockwood, J. A.↗