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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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All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2019

Magnet Architectures and Active Radiation Shielding Study (MAARSS)

This report describes the analysis of several magnetic radiation shield architectures and the spacecraft systems associated with them, such as quench detection, thermal management, and compensation coils. This work was performed as part of the NASA Institute of Advanced Concepts (NIAC) Grant Phase II effort. Because radiation exposure during long duration space missions poses a significant risk for crewed space-flight, Advanced Magnetic Lab, Inc. (AML) and NASA are studying magnetic radiation shielding, which may generate low-mass protection. Recent technological developments in high-temperature superconducting technology suggest the possibility of such shielding. This report analyzes some of the technical difficulties involved in such a system and identifies technology areas where further investment would be warranted. Most analysis was performed on a baseline configuration (8-meter diameter coils, with 1 tesla field). However, a baseline design with an expandable coil configuration (16 meter diameter coils, 1.5 tesla field) has a significant potential to increase shielding efficiency. The magnetic forces on the magnetic shield's components are large enough to require detailed structural design. Analysis of the thermal structural response of a yttrium-barium-copper-oxide (YBCO) high-temperature, superconducting (HTS) tape in a large-scale solenoid magnet showed that structural and thermal performance improved by replacing Hastelloy® with graphene in the tape. Integrating graphene into the high-strength fiber (HSF) support structure brings even greater benefits. The energy stored in a shield system's magnetic field must be safely dissipated if a quench-type failure occurs. Analysis of quench detection by fiber-optic thermal sensing and improvement of quench characteristics using graphene showed quench is manageable. Low-temperature superconductors can quench when subjected to movement, but lab tests of coil expansion testing showed that HTS materials do not quench when subject to the movement associated with coil expansion. Compensation coils are necessary to reduce the magnetic field in the crew habitat. Analysis showed that subdividing the compensation coil into individually controlled sections allows for a robust, adjustable system. AML analyzed the forces on an approaching capsule that were a result of eddy currents in its structure induced by its motion through the magnetic field from the coils. AML also analyzed coil-to-coil forces. Thermal control to maintain the HTS material at a suitable temperature is challenging. The sunshield technology review revealed a greater possibility of thermal insulation of the coils and use of passive cooling. The availability of suitable cryocoolers was also reviewed. A parametric graph estimating mass and shielding effectiveness for strength and thickness was developed, and allows spacecraft designers to assess the tradeoffs of using a magnetic radiation shield.

Spacecraft↗
NASA NTRS2011

Single photon detection with self-quenching multiplication

A photoelectronic device and an avalanche self-quenching process for a photoelectronic device are described. The photoelectronic device comprises a nanoscale semiconductor multiplication region and a nanoscale doped semiconductor quenching structure including a depletion region and an undepletion region. The photoelectronic device can act as a single photon detector or a single carrier multiplier. The avalanche self-quenching process allows electrical field reduction in the multiplication region by movement of the multiplication carriers, thus quenching the avalanche.

Zheng, Xinyu↗
NASA NTRS1980

Melting relations and elemental distribution of portion of the system Fe-S-Si-O to 32 KB with planetary application

The melting relations and distribution of K and Cs in portions of the system was determined at high pressures. Ferrosilite is stable as a primary phase at high pressures because of the incongruent melting of ferrosilite to quartz plus liquid and the boundary between the one and two liquid fields on the joint Fe(1-x) O-FeS-SiO2 shifts away from silica with increasing pressures. Potassium K was found to have limited solubility in metal sulfide liquids at pressures up to 45 kb. The speculation that K may dissolve significantly in metal-metal sulfide liquids after undergoing first order isomorphic transition was tested by determining the distribution of Cs between sulfide and silicate liquids as an analogy to K. At 45 kb, 1400 C and 27 kb, 1300 C only limited amounts of Cs were detected in quench sulfide liquids even at pressures beyond the isomorphic transition of Cs.

Huang, W. L.↗
NASA NTRS2006

Replaceable Sensor System for Bioreactor Monitoring

A sensor system was proposed that would monitor spaceflight bioreactor parameters. Not only will this technology be invaluable in the space program for which it was developed, it will find applications in medical science and industrial laboratories as well. Using frequency-domain-based fluorescence lifetime technology, the sensor system will be able to detect changes in fluorescence lifetime quenching that results from displacement of fluorophorelabeled receptors bound to target ligands. This device will be used to monitor and regulate bioreactor parameters including glucose, pH, oxygen pressure (pO2), and carbon dioxide pressure (pCO2). Moreover, these biosensor fluorophore receptor-quenching complexes can be designed to further detect and monitor for potential biohazards, bioproducts, or bioimpurities. Biosensors used to detect biological fluid constituents have already been developed that employ a number of strategies, including invasive microelectrodes (e.g., dark electrodes), optical techniques including fluorescence, and membrane permeable systems based on osmotic pressure. Yet the longevity of any of these sensors does not meet the demands of extended use in spacecraft habitat or bioreactor monitoring. It was therefore necessary to develop a sensor platform that could determine not only fluid variables such as glucose concentration, pO2, pCO2, and pH but can also regulate these fluid variables with controlled feedback loop.

Mayo, Mike↗
NASA NTRS1987

The study of excited oxygen molecule gas species production and quenching on thermal protection system materials

The detection of excited oxygen and ozone molecules formed by surface catalyzed oxygen atom recombination and reaction was investigated by laser induced fluorescence (LIF), molecular beam mass spectrometric (MBMS), and field ionization (FI) techniques. The experiment used partially dissociated oxygen flows from a microwave discharge at pressures in the range from 60 to 400 Pa or from an inductively coupled RF discharge at atmospheric pressure. The catalyst materials investigated were nickel and the reaction cured glass coating used for Space Shuttle reusable surface insulation tiles. Nonradiative loss processes for the laser excited states makes LIF detection of O2 difficult such that formation of excited oxygen molecules could not be detected in the flow from the microwave discharge or in the gaseous products of atom loss on nickel. MBMS experiments showed that ozone was a product of heterogeneous O atom loss on nickel and tile surfaces at low temperatures and that ozone is lost on these materials at elevated temperatures. FI was separately investigated as a method by which excited oxygen molecules may be conveniently detected. Partial O2 dissociation decreases the current produced by FI of the gas.

Nordine, Paul C.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Effect of detector dead time on the performance of optical direct-detection communication links

Avalanche photodiodes (APDs) operating in the Geiger mode can provide a significantly improved single-photon detection sensitivity over conventional photodiodes. However, the quenching circuit required to remove the excess charge carriers after each photon event can introduce an undesirable dead time into the detection process. The effect of this detector dead time on the performance of a binary pulse-position-modulated (PPM) channel is studied by analyzing the error probability. It is shown that, when background noise is negligible, the performance of the detector with dead time is similar to that of a quantum-limited receiver. For systems with increasing background intensities, the error rate of the receiver starts to degrade rapidly with increasing dead time. The power penalty due to detector dead time is also evaluated and shown to depend critically on badkground intensity as well as dead time. Given the expected background strength in an optical channel, therefore, a constraint must be placed on the bandwidth of the receiver to limit the amount of power penalty due to detector dead time.

Chen, C.-C.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Boundary-Layer Transition Detection in Cryogenic Wind Tunnel Using Fluorescent Paints

Luminescent molecular probes imbedded in a polymer binder form a temperature or pressure paint. On excitation by light of the proper wavelength, the luminescence, which is quenched either thermally or by oxygen, is detected by a camera or photodetector. From the detected luminescent intensity, temperature and pressure can be determined. The basic photophysics, calibration, accuracy and time response of a luminescent paints is described followed by applications in low speed, transonic, supersonic and cryogenic wind tunnels and in rotating machinery.

Sullivan, John↗
NASA NTRS1988

Effect of Detector Dead Time on the Performance of Optical Direct-Detection Communication Links

Avalanche photodiodes (APDs) operating in the Geiger mode can provide a significantly improved single-photon detect ion sensitivity over conventional photodiodes. However, the quenching circuit required to remove the excess charge carriers after each photon event can introduce an undesirable dead time into the detection process. The effect of this detector dead time on the performance of a binary pulse-position-modulted (PPM) channel is studied by analyzing the error probability. It is shown that, when back- ground noise is negligible, the performance of the detector with dead time is similar to that o f a quantum-limited receiver. For systems with increasing background intensities, the error rate of the receiver starts to degrade rapidly with increasing dead time. The power penalty due to detector dead time is also evaluated and shown to depend critically on background intensity as well as dead time. Given the expected background strength in an optical channel, therefore, a constraint must be placed on the bandwidth of the receiver to limit the amount of power penalty due to detector dead time.

Chen, C.-C.↗
NASA NTRS1991

Design and testing of an active quenching circuit for an avalanche photodiode photon detector

The photon-detection capabilities of avalanche photodiodes (APDs) operating above their theoretical breakdown voltages are described, with particular attention given to the needs and methods of quenching an avalanche once breakdown has occurred. A brief background on the motives of and previous work with this mode of operation is presented. Finally, a description of the design and testing of an active quenching circuit is given. Although the active quenching circuit did not perform as expected, knowledge was gained as to the signal amplitudes necessary for quenching and the need for a better model for the above-breakdown circuit characteristics of the Geiger-mode APD.

Arbel, D.↗
NASA NTRS1999

Internal Heterogeneous Processes in Aluminum Combustion

This paper discusses the aluminum particle combustion mechanism which has been expanded by inclusion of gas dissolution processes and ensuing internal phase transformations. This mechanism is proposed based on recent normal and microgravity experiments with particles formed and ignited in a pulsed micro-arc. Recent experimental findings on the three stages observed in Al particle combustion in air and shows the burning particle radiation, trajectory (streak), smoke cloud shapes, and quenched particle interiors are summarized. During stage I, the radiation trace is smooth and the particle flame is spherically symmetric. The temperature measured using a three-color pyrometer is close to 3000 K. Because it exceeds the aluminum boiling point (2730 K), this temperature most likely characterizes the vapor phase flame zone rather than the aluminum surface. The dissolved oxygen content within particles quenched during stage I was below the detection sensitivity (about 1 atomic %) for Wavelength Dispersive Spectroscopy (WDS). After an increase in the radiation intensity (and simultaneous decrease in the measured color temperature from about 3000 to 2800 K) indicative of the transition to stage II combustion, the internal compositions of the quenched particles change. Both oxygen-rich (approx. 10 atomic %) and oxygen-lean (< 1 %) regions are identified within the particles using back-scattered electron imaging and WDS. During stage II, oscillations are observed in particle radiation and the flame and smoke cloud are distorted from their original spherically-symmetric shape. In stage III, particle radiation continues to exhibit oscillations, but its radiation intensity drops and remains at a nearly constant level. The measured temperature decreases to about 2300 K. Also, larger changes in particle velocities are observed, and oxide caps are found on quenched particle surfaces. While these results showed the correlation between the aluminum particle combustion behavior and the evolution of its internal composition, the change from the spherically symmetric to asymmetric flame shape occurring upon the transition from stage I to stage II combustion could not be understood based only on the fact that dissolved oxygen is detected in the particles. The connection between the two phenomena appeared even less significant because in earlier aluminum combustion studies carried in O2/Ar mixtures, flame asymmetry was not observed as opposed to experiments in air or O2/CO mixtures. It has been proposed that the presence of other gases, i.e., hydrogen, or nitrogen causes the change in the combustion regime.

Dreizin, E. L.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Chemical structure of the deep atmosphere of Jupiter

Equilibrium abundances calculated for a system of over 500 compounds of 27 selected elements along a nominal Jupiter adiabat are reported. Several species predicted to be of negligible abundance in the visible upper troposphere if chemical equilibrium is exactly attained are found to be potential tracers of rapid vertical motions. Vertical mixing of certain species, especially CO, PH3, AsH3, GeS, and GeH4, may provide detectable quantities of these species near the visible cloudtops due to quenching and incomplete equilibration of the rapidly rising, rapidly cooling gas. Observational prospects for detecting such tracers of deep circulation are discussed in the light of the spectroscopic detection of CO in the 5-micron window on Jupiter and the confirmation of PH3 on both Jupiter and Saturn.

Barshay, S. S.↗
NASA NTRS1998

Applications of Temperature and Pressure Sensitive Paints

Luminescent molecular probes imbedded in a polymer binder form a temperature or pressure paint. On excitation by light of the proper wavelength, the luminescence, which is quenched either thermally or by oxygen, is detected by a camera or photodetector. From the detected luminescent intensity, temperature and pressure can be determined. The basic photophysics, calibration, accuracy and time response of a luminescent paint is described followed by applications in low speed, transonic, supersonic and cryogenic wind tunnels and in rotating machinery.

Liu, Tian-Shu↗
NASA NTRS1999

Pressure and Temperature Sensitive Paint Measurements on Rotors

Luminescent molecular probes imbedded in a polymer binder form a temperature or pressure paint. On excitation by light of the proper wavelength, the luminescence, which is quenched either thermally or by oxygen, is detected by a camera or photodetector. From the detected luminescent intensity, temperature and pressure can be determined. The basic photophysics, calibration, accuracy and time response of luminescent paints is described followed by applications in wind tunnels and in rotating machinery.

Sullivan, John↗
NASA NTRS1999

Surface Measurement Techniques Temperature and Pressure Sensitive Paints

Luminescent molecular probes imbedded in a polymer binder form a temperature or pressure paint. On excitation by light of the proper wavelength, the luminescence,which is quenched either thermally or by oxygen, is detected by a camera or photodetector. From the detected luminescent intensity, temperature and pressure can be determined. Tl e basic photophysics, calibration, accuracy and the response of a luminescent paints is described followed by applications in wind tunnels and in rotating machinery.

Sullivan, John P.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Photochemistry of bromoacetylene - Formation of HBr and quenching of excited Br/4 2P 0 1/2/

The photolysis of bromacetylene is examined by means of vacuum ultraviolet flash photolysis-kinetic spectroscopy, with attention given to the production of Br atoms in the 2P 0 3/2 and 2P 0 1/2 states, the production of HBr, and UV absorption attributable to the ethynyl radical. Although Br(2P 0 1/2) and Br(2P 0 3/2) were both directly observed at the shortest delay time after the flash, strongly indicating the presence of the ethynyl radical, transient absorption by C2H was not detected in the range 125 to 180 nm. Quenching rate constants for the decay of the 2P 0 1/2 state of Br, which is observed to form concurrently with the ground state, are derived for quenching by He, CH2Br, CF4, and D2 from the pseudo-first-order decay rates. HBr was observed as a secondary photolysis product, and a model of its formation by the exothermic reaction of ground-state atoms with C2HBR, coupled with the secondary production of Br atoms, is found to agree well with the experiment.

Laufer, A. H.↗
NASA NTRS2003

Seasonal/Diurnal Mapping of Ozone and Water in the Martian Atmosphere

Ozone and water are key species for understanding the stability and evolution of Mars atmosphere; they are closely linked (along with CO, H, OH, and O) through photochemistry. Photolysis of water produces the OH radical (thought to catalyze reformation of CO2 from CO and O2) and atomic hydrogen (which reacts with O3 forming OH and O2). Atomic hydrogen also reacts with O2 (forming HO2), thereby reducing the amount of O2 available to reform O3 from collisions between O and O2. Hence ozone and water should be anti-correlated on Mars. Photolysis of O3 produces O2(a(sup 1) delta g) with 90% efficiency, and the resulting emission band system near 1.27 mm traces the presence and abundance of ozone. This approach was initially used to study ozone on Earth and then applied to Mars. In 1997, we measured several lines of the O2(a(sup 1) delta g) emission using CSHELL at the NASA IRTF; the O2(a(sup 1) delta g) state is also quenched by collisions with CO2. This quenching dominates at lower altitudes so that the detected emissions are used to detect ozone column densities above ~20 km. The slit was positioned N-S along Mars' central meridian resulting in a one-dimensional map of ozone. Nearly simultaneous maps may be made of water using CSHELL by detecting the v1 fundamental band of HDO near 3.67 microns and using the D/H ratio for Mars. This technique was used by DiSanti and Mumma. With CSHELL, measurements for both O2(a(sup 1) delta g) emissions and HDO absorptions can be made during the day or night. Since January, 1997, we have repeated these measurements at different times during the Martian year. For all of these dates, we have positioned the slit N-S along the central meridian; for some of these dates, we have also stepped the slit across the planet at 1 arc-sec intervals generating a 2-dimensional map. We have also positioned the slit E-W on Mars thus providing diurnal variations of ozone and water along the slit.

Novak, R. E.↗
NASA NTRS1986

Temperature dependent electronic quenching of OH(A 2 Sigma +, v-prime = 0) between 230 and 310 K

The present study is concerned with the electronic quenching of OH(A 2 Sigma +, v-prime = 0) at and below room temperature, taking into account the use of laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) in a low pressure flow cell for H2, CO2, O2, and N2 colliders. The reasons for the selection of the temperature range and the collision partners are related to the quantitative calibration of OH detection techniques in the troposphere, and to considerations of electronic quenching dynamics. Attention is given to production and rotational distribution, temperature measurements, and temperature dependent quenching rate constants.

Copeland, R. A.↗