Nuclear rocket materials program.
NERVA materials program extending data to account for synergistic influence of cryogenic and radiation environment
Funk, C. W.↗
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The effects of mixing of the ejecta on the hard X-ray emissions from SN 1987A
The X-ray and gamma-ray emissions expected from SN 1987A have been calculated, taking into account mixing of material in the ejecta. Nuclear gamma rays emitted by Co-56 are scattered down to the hard X-ray band by multiple Compton scatterings. Nomoto's 11E1Y6 model for the ejecta of SN 1987A is used. X-ray light curves in the 10-30 keV band and spectra above 20 keV calculated with an inner mixed region of 5 + or - 1 solar mass are consistent with the observations performed with the Ginga satellite and the Kvant/Roentgen mission. On the basis of this comparison, further evolutions of the hard X-ray, gamma-ray, and optical/infrared emissions are discussed.
Ebisuzaki, Toshikazu↗
Nonionizing energy loss (NIEL) for protons
The proton induced NIELs for representative spacecraft materials are presented for the energy range between the displacement thresholds of the material to 1000 MeV. All interaction mechanisms (Coulomb and nuclear elastic/inelastic) are fully accounted in the present NIEL calculations.
NIEL protons coulomb nuclear↗
Design Issues for Using Magnetic Materials in Radiation Environments at Elevated Temperature
One of the challenges of designing motors and alternators for use in nuclear powered space missions is accounting for the effects of radiation. Terrestrial reactor power plants use distance and shielding to minimize radiation damage but space missions must economize volume and mass. Past studies have shown that sufficiently high radiation levels can affect the magnetic response of hard and soft magnetic materials. Theoretical models explaining the radiation-induced degradation have been proposed but not verified. This paper reviews the literature and explains the cumulative effects of temperature, magnetic-load, and radiation-level on the magnetic properties of component materials. Magnetic property degradation is very specific to alloy choice and processing history, since magnetic properties are very much entwined with specific chemistry and microstructural features. However, there is basic theoretical as well as supportive experimental evidence that the negative impact to magnetic properties will be minimal if the bulk temperature of the material is less than fifty percent of the Curie temperature, the radiation flux is low, and the demagnetization field is small. Keywords: Magnets, Permanent Magnets, Power Converters, Nuclear Electric Power Generation, Radiation Tolerance.
Bowman, Cheryl L.↗
Nitrogen isotopes in the Allende meteorite
Nitrogen in the Allende meteorite consists of at least two components, partially resolvable in a stepwise heating experiment. L-nitrogen, released below 1000 C, has a low delta N-15 (-60 to -90 per mil), and is associated with neon-A and CCF-xenon and may reside in a carbonaceous carrier. H-nitrogen, released above 1000 C, is associated with normal xenon, and may reside in silicate minerals. It is very difficult to account for the entire range of N-15/N-14 ratios in solar system materials by mass-dependent chemical and physical processes alone. In particular, an N-14 enriched component of nuclear origin appears necessary to account for the L-nitrogen in Allende.
Thiemens, M. H.↗
A spectacular nitrogen isotope anomaly in Bencubbin
Results of isotopic measurements on an unusual stony-iron meteorite named Bencubbin, which was found in Western Australia in 1930, are reported. Nitrogen from both the metallic and stony parts of the Bencubbin meteorite was analyzed, and in both materials large excesses of (15)N were found, resulting in values of the (14)N/(15)N abundance ratios as low as 137. That is, (15)N is enriched in Bencubbin by about a factor of two relative to terrestrial nitrogen. This is the largest (15)N enrichment of any known natural material. The effect is so large that chemical processes are probably inadequate to account for it. Nuclear processes which may be responsible for the anomalous isotope abundance are discussed.
Prombo, C. A.↗
A Stochastic Model of Space Radiation Transport as a Tool in the Development of Time-Dependent Risk Assessment
A new computer model, the GCR Event-based Risk Model code (GERMcode), was developed to describe biophysical events from high-energy protons and heavy ions that have been studied at the NASA Space Radiation Laboratory (NSRL) [1] for the purpose of simulating space radiation biological effects. In the GERMcode, the biophysical description of the passage of heavy ions in tissue and shielding materials is made with a stochastic approach that includes both ion track structure and nuclear interactions. The GERMcode accounts for the major nuclear interaction processes of importance for describing heavy ion beams, including nuclear fragmentation, elastic scattering, and knockout-cascade processes by using the quantum multiple scattering fragmentation (QMSFRG) model [2]. The QMSFRG model has been shown to be in excellent agreement with available experimental data for nuclear fragmentation cross sections
Kim, Myung-Hee Y.↗
GERMcode: A Stochastic Model for Space Radiation Risk Assessment
A new computer model, the GCR Event-based Risk Model code (GERMcode), was developed to describe biophysical events from high-energy protons and high charge and energy (HZE) particles that have been studied at the NASA Space Radiation Laboratory (NSRL) for the purpose of simulating space radiation biological effects. In the GERMcode, the biophysical description of the passage of HZE particles in tissue and shielding materials is made with a stochastic approach that includes both particle track structure and nuclear interactions. The GERMcode accounts for the major nuclear interaction processes of importance for describing heavy ion beams, including nuclear fragmentation, elastic scattering, and knockout-cascade processes by using the quantum multiple scattering fragmentation (QMSFRG) model. The QMSFRG model has been shown to be in excellent agreement with available experimental data for nuclear fragmentation cross sections. For NSRL applications, the GERMcode evaluates a set of biophysical properties, such as the Poisson distribution of particles or delta-ray hits for a given cellular area and particle dose, the radial dose on tissue, and the frequency distribution of energy deposition in a DNA volume. By utilizing the ProE/Fishbowl ray-tracing analysis, the GERMcode will be used as a bi-directional radiation transport model for future spacecraft shielding analysis in support of Mars mission risk assessments. Recent radiobiological experiments suggest the need for new approaches to risk assessment that include time-dependent biological events due to the signaling times for activation and relaxation of biological processes in cells and tissue. Thus, the tracking of the temporal and spatial distribution of events in tissue is a major goal of the GERMcode in support of the simulation of biological processes important in GCR risk assessments. In order to validate our approach, basic radiobiological responses such as cell survival curves, mutation, chromosomal aberrations, and representative mouse tumor induction curves are implemented into the GERMcode. Extension of these descriptions to other endpoints related to non-targeted effects and biochemical pathway responses will be discussed.
Kim, Myung-Hee Y.↗
Nuclear Science Symposium, 31st and Symposium on Nuclear Power Systems, 16th, Orlando, FL, October 31-November 2, 1984, Proceedings
Topics related to physics instrumentation are discussed, taking into account cryostat and electronic development associated with multidetector spectrometer systems, the influence of materials and counting-rate effects on He-3 neutron spectrometry, a data acquisition system for time-resolved muscle experiments, and a sensitive null detector for precise measurements of integral linearity. Other subjects explored are concerned with space instrumentation, computer applications, detectors, instrumentation for high energy physics, instrumentation for nuclear medicine, environmental monitoring and health physics instrumentation, nuclear safeguards and reactor instrumentation, and a 1984 symposium on nuclear power systems. Attention is given to the application of multiprocessors to scientific problems, a large-scale computer facility for computational aerodynamics, a single-board 32-bit computer for the Fastbus, the integration of detector arrays and readout electronics on a single chip, and three-dimensional Monte Carlo simulation of the electron avalanche in a proportional counter.
Biggerstaff, J. A.↗
1985 Annual Conference on Nuclear and Space Radiation Effects, 22nd, Monterey, CA, July 22-24, 1985, Proceedings
Basic mechanisms of radiation effects in structures and materials are discussed, taking into account the time dependence of interface state production, process dependent build-up of interface states in irradiated N-channel MOSFETs, bias annealing of radiation and bias induced positive charges in n- and p-type MOS capacitors, hole removal in thin-gate MOSFETs by tunneling, and activation energies of oxide charge recovery in SOS or SOI structures after an ionizing pulse. Other topics investigated are related to radiation effects in devices, radiation effects in integrated circuits, spacecraft charging and space radiation effects, single-event phenomena, hardness assurance and radiation sources, SGEMP/IEMP phenomena, EMP phenomena, and dosimetry and energy-dependent effects. Attention is given to a model of the plasma wake generated by a large object, gate charge collection and induced drain current in GaAs FETs, simulation of charge collection in a multilayer device, and time dependent dose enhancement effects on integrated circuit transient response mechanisms.
Jones, C. W.↗
How Space Radiation Risk from Galactic Cosmic Rays at the International Space Station Relates to Nuclear Cross Sections
Space radiation risk to astronauts is a major obstacle for long term human space explorations. Space radiation transport codes have thus been developed to evaluate radiation effects at the International Space Station (ISS) and in missions to the Moon or Mars. We study how nuclear fragmentation processes in such radiation transport affect predictions on the radiation risk from galactic cosmic rays. Taking into account effects of the geomagnetic field on the cosmic ray spectra, we investigate the effects of fragmentation cross sections at different energies on the radiation risk (represented by dose-equivalent) from galactic cosmic rays behind typical spacecraft materials. These results tell us how the radiation risk at the ISS is related to nuclear cross sections at different energies, and consequently how to most efficiently reduce the physical uncertainty in our predictions on the radiation risk at the ISS.
Lin, Zi-Wei↗
The Challenges with Material Interfaces in a Nuclear Thermal Propulsion Engine Heat Exchanger
Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (NTP) technology is an enabling technology to send humans to Mars and for agile cis-lunar mobility. NTP systems operate by flowing a propellent through a nuclear reactor. The resulting heated propellent is expulsed through a nozzle to create thrust. A key component in an NTP engine is the heat exchange tubes located within the nuclear reactor. The heat exchange tubes must be able to operate structurally at temperatures up to 2900 K. Carbon-Carbon is a potential material choice for the heat exchange tubes as the material maintains structural integrity at high temperatures. To achieve desired propulsion performance, NTP engines operate at extreme temperatures. In the extreme environment, differences in material coefficients of thermal expansion must be taken into account to avoid potential reduction of engine performance or system failure. Identified potential problems and proposed solutions to material interface challenges in the material interfaces of the heat exchange tubes are discussed, along with lessons learned for future work on NTP engine designs.
Nuclear Thermal Propulsion↗
The Challenges with Material Interfaces in a Nuclear Thermal Propulsion Engine Heat Exchanger
Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (NTP) technology is an enabling technology to send humans to Mars and for agile cis-lunar mobility. NTP systems operate by flowing a propellent through a nuclear reactor. The resulting heated propellent is expulsed through a nozzle to create thrust. A key component in an NTP engine is the heat exchange tubes located within the nuclear reactor. The heat exchange tubes must be able to operate structurally at temperatures up to 2900 K. Carbon-Carbon is a potential material choice for the heat exchange tubes as the material maintains structural integrity at high temperatures. To achieve desired propulsion performance, NTP engines operate at extreme temperatures. In the extreme environment, differences in material coefficients of thermal expansion must be taken into account to avoid potential reduction of engine performance or system failure. Identified potential problems and proposed solutions to material interface challenges in the material interfaces of the heat exchange tubes are discussed, along with lessons learned for future work on NTP engine designs.
Nuclear Thermal Propulsion↗
The supernova trigger for formation of the solar system
It is suggested that the explosion of a Type II supernova triggered the collapse of a nearby interstellar cloud and led to the formation of the solar system. Estimates of the abundances resulting from nuclear processing of the supernova ejecta are presented. It appears promising that nucleosynthesis in this single supernova event can account for most isotopic anomalies and traces of extinct radioactivities in solar-system material.
Cameron, A. G. W.↗
Gravisensing, apoptosis, and drug recovery in Taxus cell suspensions
Haploid and diploid cell suspensions of Taxus spp. were examined for their adaptive plasticity in response to simulated microgravity, unit gravity, and hypergravity. Cell suspensions produced the taxane, paclitaxel, (TAXOL (R)), which is useful for the treatment of various cancers. Amyloplasts contributed to taxane ring biosynthesis and to drug release at the cell wall. Drug-producing cells reacted as gravisensing osmotic tensiometers. In stressed cells, amyloplasts docked and fused in clusters to sites on the plasmalemma before taxane discharge into the culture medium. In simulated microgravity and compared to all other treatments, taxane production was reduced nearly 100-fold. The percent paclitaxel of total taxanes remained 3-to 6-fold greater, and biomass doubled. When p53-independent programmed cell death was induced, taxanes were released into the culture medium as free molecules (soluble and insoluble) or bound to membranes, nuclear fragments, xylan residues, and other particulate materials. Unit gravity and especially hypergravity promoted xylogenesis and significant drug overproduction. A model relating families of >touch = (TCH), taxane early response (TER), nuclear cycling, and apoptosis-regulating genes to gravisensing, cell wall modifications, and to taxane recovery accounted for most but not all of the observations.
Paclitaxel/biosynthesis↗
Lightweight, High-Temperature Radiator for Space Propulsion
For high-power nuclear-electric spacecraft, the radiator can account for 40% or more of the power system mass and a large fraction of the total vehicle mass. Improvements in the heat rejection per unit mass rely on lower-density and higher-thermal conductivity materials. Current radiators achieve near-ideal surface radiation through high-emissivity coatings, so improvements in heat rejection per unit area can be accomplished only by raising the temperature at which heat is rejected. We have been investigating materials that have the potential to deliver significant reductions in mass density and significant improvements in thermal conductivity, while expanding the feasible range of temperature for heat rejection up to 1000 K and higher. The presentation will discuss the experimental results and models of the heat transfer in matrix-free carbon fiber fins. Thermal testing of other carbon-based fin materials including carbon nanotube cloth and a carbon nanotube composite will also be presented.
Hyers, R. W.↗
Compton-backscattered annihilation radiation from the Galactic Center region
On 1989 May 22, the High Energy X-ray and Gamma-ray Observatory for Nuclear Emissions, a balloon-borne high-resolution germanium spectrometer with an 18-deg FOV, observed the Galactic Center (GC) from 25 to 2500 keV. The GC photon spectrum is obtained from the count spectrum by a model-independent method which accounts for the effects of passive material in the instrument and scattering in the atmosphere. Besides a positron annihilation line with a flux of (10.0 +/- 2.4) x 10 exp -4 photons/sq cm s and a full width at half-maximum (FWHM) of (2.9 + 1.0, -1.1) keV, the spectrum shows a peak centered at (163.7 +/- 3.4) keV with a flux of (1.55 +/- 0.47) x 10 exp -3 photons/sq cm s and a FWHM of (24.4 +/- 9.2) keV. The energy range 450-507 keV shows no positronium continuum associated with the annihilation line, with a 2-sigma upper limit of 0.90 on the positronium fraction. The 164 keV feature is interpreted as Compton backscatter of broadened and redshifted annihilation radiation, possibly from the source 1E 1740.7-2942.
Smith, D. M.↗
The Suzaku Observation of the Nucleus of the Radio Loud Active Galaxy Centaurus A: Constraints on Abundances in the Accreting Material
A Suzaku observation of the nucleus of the radio-loud AGN Centaurus A in 2005 has yielded a broadband spectrum spanning 0.3 to 250 keV. The hard X-rays are fit by two power laws, absorbed by columns of 1.5 and 7 x 10(exp 23) per square centimeter. The dual power-laws are consistent with previous suggestions that the powerlaw components are X-ray emission from the sub-pc VLBI jet and from Bondi accretion at the core, or are consistent with a partial covering interpretation. The soft band is dominated by thermal emission from the diffuse plasma and is fit well by a two-temperature VAPEC model, plus a third power-law component to account for scattered nuclear emission, kpc-scale jet emission, and emission from X-ray Binaries and other point sources. Narrow fluorescent emission lines from Fe, Si, S, Ar, Ca and Ni are detected. The width of the Fe Ka line yields a 200 light-day lower limit on the distance from the black hole to the line-emitting gas. K-shell absorption edges due to Fe, Ca, and S are detected. Elemental abundances are constrained via the fluorescent lines strengths, absorption edge depths and the diffuse plasma emission lines. The high metallicity ([Fe/H]=+0.l) of the circumnuclear material compared to that in the metal-poor outer halo suggests that the accreting material could not have originated in the outer halo unless enrichment by local star formation has occurred. Relative abundances are consistent with enrichment from Type II and Ia supernovae.
Markowitz, A.↗