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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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NASA NTRS1975

Improved upper limit on the photon rest mass

It is shown that application of standard MHD arguments to hydromagnetic waves observed in the Crab Nebula dramatically improves the upper bound on photon rest mass. The standard argument that massive photons are governed by the Phoca field equations is outlined and applied to wisp features (identified as hydromagnetic waves) observed in the Crab. The results imply an upper limit for the photon rest mass of between 3 by 10 to the -54th power and 3 by 10 to the -53rd power gram, which is smaller than the best previous limits by a factor of 10,000 to 100,000. It is noted that although the present limit is probably valid in order of magnitude, some doubt remains since there are inconsistencies in the standard arguments.

Barnes, A.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Gravitational scattering of zero-rest-mass plane waves

The Feyman-diagram technique is used to calculate the differential cross sections for the scattering of zero-rest-mass plane waves of spin 0, 1, and 2 by linearized Schwarzschild and Kerr geometries in the long-wavelength weak-field limit. It is found that the polarization of right (or left) circularly polarized electromagnetic waves is unaffected by the scattering process (i.e., helicity is conserved) and that the two helicity (polarization) states of the photon are scattered differently by the Kerr geometry. This coupling between the photon helicity and the angular momentum of the scatterer also leads to a partial polarization of unpolarized incident light. For gravitational waves, on the other hand, there is neither helicity conservation nor helicity-dependent scattering; the angular momentum of the scatterer has no polarizing effect on incident unpolarized gravitational waves.

De Logi, W. K.↗
NASA NTRS1972

An upper limit on the neutrino rest mass.

It is pointed out that the measurement of the deceleration parameter by Sandage (1972) implies an upper limit of a few tens of electron volts on the sum of the masses of all the possible light, stable particles that interact only weakly. In the discussion of the problem, it is assumed that the universe is expanding from an initially hot and condensed state as envisaged in the 'big-bang' theories.

Cowsik, R.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Correlation mass method for analysis of neutrinos from supernova 1987A

Application of a time-energy correlation method to the Kamiokande II (KII) observations of neutrinos apparently emitted from supernova 1987A has yielded a neutrino rest mass of 3.6 eV. A Monte Carlo analysis shows a reconfirming probabilty distribution for the neutrino rest mass peaked at 2.8, and dropping to 50 percent of the peak at 1.4 and 4.8 eV. Although the KII data indicate a very short time scale of emission, over an extended period on the order of 10 sec, both data from the Irvine-Michigan-Brookhaven experiment and the KII data show a tendency for the more energetic neutrinos to be emitted earlier at the source, suggesting the possibility of cooling.

Chiu, Hong-Yee↗
NASA NTRS1989

The effect of mass loading on the temperature of a flowing plasma

How the addition of ions at rest (mass loading) affects the temperature of a flowing plasma in a MHD approximation is investigated, using analytic theory and time dependent, three-dimensional MHD simulations of plasma flow past Io. The MHD equations show that the temperature can increase or decrease relative to the background, depending on the local sonic Mach number M(S), of the flow. For flows with M(S) of greater than sq rt 9/5 (when gamma = 5/3), mass loading increases the plasma temperature. However, the simulations show a nonlinear response to the addition of mass. If the mass loading rate is large enough, the temperature increase may be smaller than expected, or the temperature may actually decrease, because a large mass loading rate slows the flow and decreases the thermal energy of the newly created plasma.

Linker, Jon A.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Rapidly rotating polytropes in general relativity

We construct an extensive set of equilibrium sequences of rotating polytropes in general relativity. We determine a number of important physical parameters of such stars, including maximum mass and maximum spin rate. The stability of the configurations against quasi-radial perturbations is diagnosed. Two classes of evolutionary sequences of fixed rest mass and entropy are explored: normal sequences which behave very much like Newtonian evolutionary sequences, and supramassive sequences which exist solely because of relativistic effects. Dissipation leading to loss of angular momentum causes a star to evolve in a quasi-stationary fashion along an evolutionary sequence. Supramassive sequences evolve towards eventual catastrophic collapse to a black hole. Prior to collapse, the star must spin up as it loses angular momentum, an effect which may provide an observational precursor to gravitational collapse to a black hole.

Cook, Gregory B.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Neutrinos and the age of the universe

The age of the universe should be calculable by independent methods with similar results. Previous calculations using nucleochronometers, globular clusters and dynamical measurements coupled with Friedmann models and nucleosynthesis constraints have given different values of the age. A consistent age is reported, whose implications for the constituent mass density are very interesting and are affected by the existence of a third neutrino flavor, and by allowing the possibility that neutrinos may have a non-zero rest mass.

Symbalisty, E. M. D.↗
NASA NTRS1988

Mass determination of neutrinos

A time-energy correlation method has been developed to determine the signature of a nonzero neutrino mass in a small sample of neutrinos detected from a distant source. The method is applied to the Kamiokande II (Hirata et al., 1987) and IMB (Bionta et al., 1987) observations of neutrino bursts from SN 1987A. Using the Kamiokande II data, the neutrino rest mass is estimated at 2.8 + 2.0, - 1.4 eV and the initial neutrino pulse is found to be less than 0.3 sec full width, followed by an emission tail lasting at least 10 sec.

Chiu, Hong-Yee↗
NASA NTRS1985

Far-ultraviolet background observations at high galactic latitude. I - The Coma Cluster

A series of high-galactic-latitude observations made with the Voyager 2 ultraviolet spectrometer are used to place stringent upper limits on the far-ultraviolet emissions from the central regions of the Coma Cluster of galaxies. In particular, consideration of the 912-1150 A region yields lower limits upon the radiative decay lifetimes of any neutrino species with masses in the range 22.1-27.8 eV, assuming massless decay products. Limits on the radiative decay lifetimes of such neutrinos are found to vary from 2.4 x 10 to the 25th to 7.1 x 10 to the 24th s, respectively, as a function of neutrino rest mass. This represents a substantial improvement over previous measurements.

Holberg, J. B.↗
NASA NTRS2011

Sky Localization of Complete Inspiral-Merger-Ringdown Signals for Nonspinning Black Hole Binaries with LISA

We investigate the capability of LISA to measure the sky position of equal-mass, nonspinning black hole binaries, including for the first time the entire inspiral-merger-ringdown signal, the effect of the LISA orbits, and the complete three-channel LISA response. For an ensemble of systems near the peak of LISA's sensitivity band, with total rest mass of 2 x l0(exp 6) Stellar Mass at a redshift of z = 1 with random orientations and sky positions, we find median sky localization errors of approximately approx. 3 arcminutes. This is comparable to the field of view of powerful electromagnetic telescopes, such as the James Webb Space Telescope, that could be used to search for electromagnetic signals associated with merging black holes. We investigate the way in which parameter errors decrease with measurement time, focusing specifically on the additional information provided during the merger-ringdown segment of the signal. We find that this information improves all parameter estimates directly, rather than through diminishing correlations with any subset of well-determined parameters.

McWilliams, Sean T.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Rapidly rotating neutron stars in general relativity: Realistic equations of state

We construct equilibrium sequences of rotating neutron stars in general relativity. We compare results for 14 nuclear matter equations of state. We determine a number of important physical parameters for such stars, including the maximum mass and maximum spin rate. The stability of the configurations to quasi-radial perturbations is assessed. We employ a numerical scheme particularly well suited to handle rapid rotation and large departures from spherical symmetry. We provide an extensive tabulation of models for future reference. Two classes of evolutionary sequences of fixed baryon rest mass and entropy are explored: normal sequences, which behave very much like Newtonian sequences, and supramassive sequences, which exist for neutron stars solely because of general relativistic effects. Adiabatic dissipation of energy and angular momentum causes a star to evolve in quasi-stationary fashion along an evolutionary sequence. Supramassive sequences have masses exceeding the maximum mass of a nonrotating neutron star. A supramassive star evolves toward eventual catastrophic collapse to a black hole. Prior to collapse, the star actually spins up as it loses angular momentum, an effect that may provide an observable precursor to gravitational collapse to a black hole.

Cook, Gregory B.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Magnetic monopoles and cosmology

The number density of magnetic monopoles is calculated in the framework of big-bang cosmology on the basis of a solution to the Boltzmann transport equation in evolutionary cosmological models. The product of the mass and the transition probability of the annihilation process for magnetic monopoles is obtained relative to those for protons and is shown to be greater than about 10 to the 20th power. Based on this result, two likely conclusions are made: (1) monopoles exist, but possess a pole-antipole bound state with binding energy of the order of the monopole rest mass; or (2) magnetic monopoles do not exist.

Adams, P. J.↗
NASA NTRS1989

Neutrinos from SN 1987A - Implications for cooling of the nascent neutron star and the mass of the electron antineutrino

Data on neutrinos from SN 1987A are compared here with parameterized models of the neutrino emission using a consistent and straightforward statistical methodology. The empirically measured detector background spectra are included in the analysis, and the data are compared with a much wider variety of neutrino emission models than was explored previously. It is shown that the inferred neutrino emission model parameters are strongly correlated. The analysis confirms that simple models of the neutrino cooling of the nascent neutron star formed by the SN adequately explain the data. The inferred radius and binding energy of the neutron star are in excellent agreement with model calculations based on a wide range of equations of state. The results also raise the upper limit of the electron antineutrino rest mass to roughly 25 eV at the 95 percent confidence level, roughly 1.5-5 times higher than found previously.

Loredo, Thomas J.↗
NASA NTRS1976

Weak interactions and Eotvos experiments

A current-current model for weak interactions is used to show that the weak-interaction contribution to the ground-state energies of typical nuclei is about one part in 100 million of their rest masses. By comparing this contribution with the results of recent versions of the Eotvos experiments, it is concluded that weak-interaction energies obey the principle of equivalence to better than one part in 100, thus refuting claims that those experiments did not test weak-interaction effects.

Haugan, M. P.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Gravitational radiation and the ultimate speed in Rosen's bimetric theory of gravity

In Rosen's bimetric theory of gravity the (local) speed of gravitational radiation is determined by the combined effects of cosmological boundary values and nearby concentrations of matter. It is possible for the speed of gravitational radiation to be less than the speed of light. It is here shown that the emission of gravitational radiation prevents particles of nonzero rest mass from exceeding the speed of gravitational radiation. Observations of relativistic particles place limits on the speed of gravitational radiation and the cosmological boundary values today, and observations of synchroton radiation from compact radio sources place limits on the cosmological boundary values in the past.

Caves, C. M.↗
NASA NTRS1981

Texas Symposium on Relativistic Astrophysics, 10th, Baltimore, MD, December 15-19, 1980, Proceedings

The present conference on relativistic astrophysics begins with consideration of such topics in the cosmology of the early universe as the implications of the neutrino rest mass, relic neutrino clustering, and the possibility of a matter-antimatter domain structure in the universe, and proceeds to the broader cosmological questions of the distances of extragalactic objects, the mass of the universe, and the dynamics of superclusters. Also considered are the cosmic microwave background, relativistic jet production and propagation in active galaxies, gravitational lenses, positron annihilation radiation from the galactic center region, supernova models, and the acceleration of cosmic rays by shock waves. Summaries are presented in closing, on workshops concerning such topics as gravitational radiation detectors, the UV cosmic ray background, pulsars, supernovae, active galaxies, and quasars.

Ramaty, R.↗