5,160 research outputs found
Analytical sun synchronous low-thrust manoeuvres
Article describes analytical sun synchronous low-thrust manoeuvres
Interaction effects and quantum phase transitions in topological insulators
We study strong correlation effects in topological insulators via the Lanczos
algorithm, which we utilize to calculate the exact many-particle ground-state
wave function and its topological properties. We analyze the simple,
noninteracting Haldane model on a honeycomb lattice with known topological
properties and demonstrate that these properties are already evident in small
clusters. Next, we consider interacting fermions by introducing repulsive
nearest-neighbor interactions. A first-order quantum phase transition was
discovered at finite interaction strength between the topological band
insulator and a topologically trivial Mott insulating phase by use of the
fidelity metric and the charge-density-wave structure factor. We construct the
phase diagram at as a function of the interaction strength and the
complex phase for the next-nearest-neighbor hoppings. Finally, we consider the
Haldane model with interacting hard-core bosons, where no evidence for a
topological phase is observed. An important general conclusion of our work is
that despite the intrinsic nonlocality of topological phases their key
topological properties manifest themselves already in small systems and
therefore can be studied numerically via exact diagonalization and observed
experimentally, e.g., with trapped ions and cold atoms in optical lattices.Comment: 13 pages, 12 figures. Published versio
Using Innovative Technologies for Manufacturing Rocket Engine Hardware
Many of the manufacturing techniques that are currently used for rocket engine component production are traditional methods that have been proven through years of experience and historical precedence. As the United States enters into the next space age where new launch vehicles are being designed and propulsion systems are being improved upon, it is sometimes necessary to adopt innovative techniques for manufacturing hardware. With a heavy emphasis on cost reduction and improvements in manufacturing time, rapid manufacturing techniques such as Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) are being adopted and evaluated for their use on NASA s Space Launch System (SLS) upper stage engine, J-2X, with hopes of employing this technology on a wide variety of future projects. DMLS has the potential to significantly reduce the processing time and cost of engine hardware, while achieving desirable material properties by using a layered powder metal manufacturing process in order to produce complex part geometries. Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) has recently hot-fire tested a J-2X gas generator (GG) discharge duct that was manufactured using DMLS. The duct was inspected and proof tested prior to the hot-fire test. Using a workhorse gas generator (WHGG) test fixture at MSFC's East Test Area, the duct was subjected to extreme J-2X hot gas environments during 7 tests for a total of 537 seconds of hot-fire time. The duct underwent extensive post-test evaluation and showed no signs of degradation. DMLS manufacturing has proven to be a viable option for manufacturing rocket engine hardware, and further development and use of this manufacturing method is recommended
The spin-half Heisenberg antiferromagnet on two Archimedian lattices: From the bounce lattice to the maple-leaf lattice and beyond
We investigate the ground state of the two-dimensional Heisenberg
antiferromagnet on two Archimedean lattices, namely, the maple-leaf and bounce
lattices as well as a generalized - model interpolating between both
systems by varying from (bounce limit) to (maple-leaf
limit) and beyond. We use the coupled cluster method to high orders of
approximation and also exact diagonalization of finite-sized lattices to
discuss the ground-state magnetic long-range order based on data for the
ground-state energy, the magnetic order parameter, the spin-spin correlation
functions as well as the pitch angle between neighboring spins. Our results
indicate that the "pure" bounce () and maple-leaf () Heisenberg
antiferromagnets are magnetically ordered, however, with a sublattice
magnetization drastically reduced by frustration and quantum fluctuations. We
found that magnetic long-range order is present in a wide parameter range and that the magnetic order parameter varies only
weakly with . At a direct first-order transition to
a quantum orthogonal-dimer singlet ground state without magnetic long-range
order takes place. The orthogonal-dimer state is the exact ground state in this
large- regime, and so our model has similarities to the Shastry-Sutherland
model. Finally, we use the exact diagonalization to investigate the
magnetization curve. We a find a 1/3 magnetization plateau for and another one at 2/3 of saturation emerging only at large .Comment: 9 pages, 10 figure
Extension of the sun-synchronous Orbit
Through careful consideration of the orbit perturbation force due to the oblate nature of the primary body a secular variation of the ascending node angle of a near-polar orbit can be induced without expulsion of propellant. Resultantly, the orbit perturbations can be used to maintain the orbit plane in, for example, a near-perpendicular (or at any other angle) alignment to the Sun-line throughout the full year of the primary body; such orbits are normally termed Sun-synchronous orbits [1, 2]. Sun-synchronous orbits about the Earth are typically near-circular Low-Earth Orbits (LEOs), with an altitude of less than 1500 km. It is normal to design a LEO such that the orbit period is synchronised with the rotation of the Earthâs surface over a given period, such that a repeating ground-track is established. A repeating ground-track, together with the near-constant illumination conditions of the ground-track when observed from a Sun-synchronous orbit, enables repeat observations of a target over an extended period under similar illumination conditions [1, 2]. For this reason, Sun-synchronous orbits are extensively used by Earth Observation (EO) platforms, including currently the Environmental Satellite (ENVISAT), the second European Remote Sensing satellite (ERS-2) and many more. By definition, a given Sun-synchronous orbit is a finite resource similar to a geostationary orbit. A typical characterising parameter of a Sun-synchronous orbit is the Mean Local Solar Time (MLST) at descending node, with a value of 1030 hours typical. Note that ERS-1 and ERS-2 used a MLST at descending node of 1030 hours Âą 5 minutes, while ENVISAT uses a 1000 hours Âą 5 minutes MLST at descending node [3]. Following selection of the MLST at descending node and for a given desired repeat ground-track, the orbit period and hence the semi-major axis are fixed, thereafter assuming a circular orbit is desired it is found that only a single orbit inclination will enable a Sun-synchronous orbit [2]. As such, only a few spacecraft can populate a given repeat ground-track Sun-synchronous orbit without compromise, for example on the MLST at descending node. Indeed a notable feature of on-going studies by the ENVISAT Post launch Support Office is the desire to ensure sufficient propellant remains at end-of-mission for re-orbiting to a graveyard orbit to ensure the orbital slot is available for future missions [4]. An extension to the Sun-synchronous orbit is considered using an undefined, non-orientation constrained, low-thrust propulsion system. Initially the low-thrust propulsion system will be considered for the free selection of orbit inclination and altitude while maintaining the Sun-synchronous condition. Subsequently the maintenance of a given Sun-synchronous repeat-ground track will be considered, using the low-thrust propulsion system to enable the free selection of orbit altitude. An analytical expression will be developed to describe these extensions prior to then validating the analytical expressions within a numerical simulation of a spacecraft orbit. Finally, an analysis will be presented on transfer and injection trajectories to these orbits
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