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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

A geometric modeler based on a dual-geometry representation polyhedra and rational b-splines

For speed and data base reasons, solid geometric modeling of large complex practical systems is usually approximated by a polyhedra representation. Precise parametric surface and implicit algebraic modelers are available but it is not yet practical to model the same level of system complexity with these precise modelers. In response to this contrast the GEOMOD geometric modeling system was built so that a polyhedra abstraction of the geometry would be available for interactive modeling without losing the precise definition of the geometry. Part of the reason that polyhedra modelers are effective is that all bounded surfaces can be represented in a single canonical format (i.e., sets of planar polygons). This permits a very simple and compact data structure. Nonuniform rational B-splines are currently the best representation to describe a very large class of geometry precisely with one canonical format. The specific capabilities of the modeler are described.

Klosterman, A. L.↗

Global parallel unification for large question-answering systems

An efficient means of storing data in a first-order predicate calculus theorem-proving system is described. The data structure is oriented for large scale question-answering (QA) systems. An algorithm is outlined which uses the data structure to unify a given literal in parallel against all literals in all clauses in the data base. The data structure permits a compact representation of data within a QA system. Some suggestions are made for heuristics which can be used to speed-up the unification algorithm in systems.

Auguston, J. G.↗

Optimization of the computational load of a hypercube supercomputer onboard a mobile robot

A combinatorial optimization methodology is developed, which enables the efficient use of hypercube multiprocessors onboard mobile intelligent robots dedicated to time-critical missions. The methodology is implemented in terms of large-scale concurrent algorithms based either on fast simulated annealing, or on nonlinear asynchronous neural networks. In particular, analytic expressions are given for the effect of single-neuron perturbations on the systems' configuration energy. Compact neuromorphic data structures are used to model effects such as precedence constraints, processor idling times, and task-schedule overlaps. Results for a typical robot-dynamics benchmark are presented.

Barhen, Jacob↗

BDDs for Representing Data in Runtime Verification

A BDD (Boolean Decision Diagram) is a data structure for the compact representation of a Boolean function. It is equipped with efficient algorithms for minimization and for applying Boolean operators. The use of BDDs for representing Boolean functions, combined with symbolic algorithms, facilitated a leap in the capability of model checking for the verification of systems with a huge number of states. Recently BDDs were considered as an efficient representation of data for Runtime Verification (RV). We review here the basic theory of BDDs and summarize their use in model checking and specifically in runtime verification.

Peled, Doron↗

3C 323.1 - A QSO in a rich cluster of galaxies.

The redshift and structural data on the compact cluster Zw Cl 1545.1+2104 have been determined from deep plates of the cluster region and from spectral scans of the central galaxy in the cluster. The cluster is of richness 1 on Abell's (1958) scale, and the redshift of its central galaxy agrees well with that of the quasar 3C 323.1 which lies at a projected distance of 6.5 sec from the center of the cluster. The data indicate that the quasar is a member of the cluster as opposed to the observed trend.

Oemler, A., Jr.↗

SiC Charged Particle Telescope GRC Independent Research and Development (IRAD) Program End of Project Final Report

In an advancement over the state-of-the art, NASA Glenn Research Center (GRC) has developed a large area silicon carbide (SiC)-based charged particle telescope through an Independent Research and Development (IRAD) project. The telescope has been demonstrated to have improved noise characteristics and resolution than previous SiC detectors. This improvement will meet the challenges of compact multidirectional robust radiation detector systems to study a wide range of elementary particle mass and energies. In order to provide a complete understanding of how energetic processes internal and external to the solar system shape magnetospheres, atmospheres, and surfaces, in situ particle observations should include measurements of Solar Energetic Particles (SEP) and Galactic Cosmic Rays (GCR), along with solar wind and plasma. The potential temperature stability, tolerance to high radiation environments, and low noise characteristics expected in SiC-based detectors can have advantages over the state-of-the-art silicon detectors. These advantages will allow the detectors to be deployed in small compact systems on a variety of platforms, enabling compact structures for small satellite platforms with improved data quality.

Field and particle detectors↗

Sequential Principal Component Analysis -An Optimal and Hardware-Implementable Transform for Image Compression

This paper presents the JPL-developed Sequential Principal Component Analysis (SPCA) algorithm for feature extraction / image compression, based on "dominant-term selection" unsupervised learning technique that requires an order-of-magnitude lesser computation and has simpler architecture compared to the state of the art gradient-descent techniques. This algorithm is inherently amenable to a compact, low power and high speed VLSI hardware embodiment. The paper compares the lossless image compression performance of the JPL's SPCA algorithm with the state of the art JPEG2000, widely used due to its simplified hardware implementability. JPEG2000 is not an optimal data compression technique because of its fixed transform characteristics, regardless of its data structure. On the other hand, conventional Principal Component Analysis based transform (PCA-transform) is a data-dependent-structure transform. However, it is not easy to implement the PCA in compact VLSI hardware, due to its highly computational and architectural complexity. In contrast, the JPL's "dominant-term selection" SPCA algorithm allows, for the first time, a compact, low-power hardware implementation of the powerful PCA algorithm. This paper presents a direct comparison of the JPL's SPCA versus JPEG2000, incorporating the Huffman and arithmetic coding for completeness of the data compression operation. The simulation results show that JPL's SPCA algorithm is superior as an optimal data-dependent-transform over the state of the art JPEG2000. When implemented in hardware, this technique is projected to be ideally suited to future NASA missions for autonomous on-board image data processing to improve the bandwidth of communication.

Duong, Tuan A.↗

Compact and diffuse X-ray sources in the core of the Perseus cluster /Abell 426/

Data on the X-ray structure of the Perseus cluster of galaxies in the energy range from 2 to 10 keV are analyzed which were obtained during a 12-day observation with the rotating modulation collimator aboard SAS 3. In particular, the nature of the compact X-ray source coincident with NGC 1275 is examined. The data are shown to confirm the presence of a diffuse region of X-ray emission surrounding the nucleus of NGC 1275; it is found that a model which also includes a point source at the nucleus is consistent with the data if the point contribution is no larger than 20% of the X-ray flux detected within 3 to 5 arcmin of the galaxy. The results suggest that NGC 1275 may have accreted a large amount of gas from the intracluster medium and that the flux from the possible point source is consistent with a synchro/Compton model.

Helmken, H.↗

Time-dependent radio fine structure of the compact sources NRAO 150 and 4C 39.25

Very long baseline interferometer observations at 7.85 GHz have been used to probe the milliarcsecond structure of the unidentified, very compact radio source NRAO 150 and QSO 4 C 39.25. NRAO 150 exhibited no structural variations from 1972 to the end of 1974. A model with two circular Gaussian components fits the data well. NRAO 150 had a flux density of 7.6 plus or minus 0.5 Jy in the compact component; 4 C 39.25 showed a two-component structure, the components having a separation of (2.02 plus or minus 0.05 arc sec) x 10 to the -3rd power. The upper bound on the speed of transverse separation is 0.0001 arc sec per year or less than 2.7 c. From the spectrum there are also indications of a third, larger component.

Baath, L. B.↗

Nonperiodic variations in astrophysical systems: Investigating frequency evolution

We present a method related to the wavelet transform, the Gabor transform, for investigating astronomical time series containing nonconsistent frequencies. Instances in which such data sets may arise include variable star light curves, numerical studies of the gravitational three-body problem, X-ray binaries, and signals from more exotic objects such as planets around pulsars and mass infall from accretion structures onto compact objects. As an illustration of its power, we apply the technique to a numerical data set of a gravitational three-body interaction and to photometry of the rapidly oscillating peculiar A star HD 60435. In the three-body example, the method provides an insightful shorthand that allows for the determination of episodes where the system behaves as two nearly Keplerian orbits. For HD 60435, the power in the main frequency exhibits unusual evolution over the duration of the observation.

Boyd, Patricia T.↗

Discovery of new objects in the Orion nebula on HST images - Shocks, compact sources, and protoplanetary disks

We have reduced and analyzed a set of narrow-band HST images of a portion of M42 south of the Trapezium. Many new emission-line sources were found, some quite long but so narrow that they are not seen on ground-based images. These include thin shells which are high-ionization shocks. The structure around Orion HH 3 is resolved into multiple components. Slit spectroscopy data establish the high expansion velocities of all these regions. The other objects seen are compact sources. Although some had been detected in VLA surveys and several had been seen from the ground optically, the new images show previously undetected structure and clearly establish that most are protoplanetary disks, which are neutral disks surrounding low-mass pre-main-sequence stars and are ionized from the outside by Theta sup 1 C and Theta sup 2 A Ori.

O'Dell, C. R.↗

The infrared emission of G333.6-0.2 - An extremely nonspherical H II region

The southern H II region G333.6-0.2, which has a total luminosity of 3.3 million solar luminosities (for an assumed distance of 4 kpc) was mapped at 2.2, 10, 30, 50, and 100 microns. At all wavelengths, the surface brightness of the infrared radiation is unusually high and the structure of the source is compact and symmetrical. The present observations, along with previous data, suggest that G333.6-0.2 is excited by a single luminous object or a very compact cluster, which has formed on the front surface of a dense molecular cloud as seen from the earth. It is shown that the spectral and spatial characteristics of the infrared radiation can be understood in terms of this blister model.

Hyland, A. R.↗

Structural properties of compact groups

We report the results of a systematic study of galaxies in the regions of Hickson compact groups. Our sample is composed of the 22 Hickson groups which are located in the southern hemisphere and have cz less than 9000 km/s. Making use of digitized images of IIIa-J plates that cover an area of 0.5 x 0.5 deg around each group, we were able to detect and classify images down to a magnitude limit of 19.5 in the B band. This limit is typically three magnitudes fainter than previous studies. Most groups show a statistically significant excess of fainter galaxies compared to the background. These fainter galaxies typically have a somewhat more extended spatial distribution than the brighter galaxies originally classified by Hickson. Our data suggest that Hickson groups have a wide range in density and radius, ranging from very compact structures with overdensities of the order of 10(exp 2) and crossing times of roughly 0.01 H(sub 0 sup -1), to much more diffuse structures, similar to loose groups, with overdensities of about 3 and crossing times of roughly 0.5 H(sub 0 sup -1).

De Carvalho, R. R.↗

Planar near-field scanning for compact range bistatic radar cross-section measurement

The design, construction, and testing of a low cost, planar scanning system to be used in a compact range environment for bistatic radar cross-section (bistatic RCS) measurement data are discussed. This scanning system is similar to structures used for measuring near-field antenna patterns. A synthetic aperture technique is used for plane wave reception. System testing entailed comparison of measured and theoretical bistatic RCS of a sphere and a right circular cylinder. Bistatic scattering analysis of the ogival target support, target and pedestal interactions, and compact range room was necessary to determine measurement validity.

Tuhela-Reuning, S. R.↗

Integrated Utility Module for Future NASA Miniature Spacecraft

NASA initiated a program for space-validation of selected technologies relating to miniature spacecraft and microinstruments. Addressed is the proposed development of the Integrated Utility Module (IUM) which integrates structural integrity, thermal management, power distribution, data & signal transmission, radiation & meteoroid protection, etc. into a lightweight, compact, cableless package.

NASA↗

High resolution VLA-Nancay observations of the sun

The Very Large Array (VLA) and the Nancay Radioheliograph (NR) can be used in the 1990s to provide unique observations of the quiescent and active corona. The combined data can specify the evolution and magnetic structure at a variety of heights in the quiescent corona, from compact to extended structures such as loops, streamers and coronal holes. The scientific potential of simultaneous VLA-NR research is illustrated by observations of solar noise storms with hitherto unavailable resolution in space (VLA) and time (NR). Unique information will also be provided for other types of solar bursts, leading to an improved understanding of solar activity during the coming maximum.

Kerdraon, A.↗

Very high resolution observations of the radio source in the supernova remnant G127.1+0.5

The results of recent very long baseline interferometry of G127.11+0.54 at 10.65 GHz reveal a core dual 'jet' structure. The morphology and physical properties of the compact source are similar to those of SS 433. The combined data from various studies of this object suggest that G127.11+0.54 may be the stellar remnant of the supernova event which also produced the supernova remnant G127.1+0.5.

Geldzahler, B. J.↗

The correspondence between small-scale coronal structures and the evolving solar magnetic field

Solar coronal bright points, first identified in soft X-rays as X-ray Bright Points (XBPs), are compact, short-lived and associated with small bipolar magnetic flux. Coordinated data obtained during recent X-ray sounding rocket flights on August 15 and December 11, 1987 are used to determine the correspondence of XBPs with time-series, ground-based observations of evolving bipolar magnetic structures, He-I dark points, and the network. The results are consistent with the view that coronal bright points are more likely to be associated with the annihilation of preexisting flux than with emerging flux.

Webb, D. F.↗