2,309 research outputs found
Demonstration of rapid and sensitive module leak certification for Space Station Freedom
A leak detection and quantification demonstration using perflurocarbon tracer (PFT) technology was successfully performed at the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center on January 25, 1991. The real-time Dual Trap Analyzer (DTA) at one-half hour after the start of the first run gave an estimated leak rate of 0.7 mL/min. This has since been refined to be 1.15 (+ or -) 0.09 mL/min. The leak rates in the next three runs were determined to be 9.8 (+ or -) 0.7, -0.4 (+ or -) 0.3, and 76 (+ or -) 6 mL/min, respectively. The theory on leak quantification in the steady-state and time-dependent modes for a single zone test facility was developed and applied to the above determinations. The laboratory PFT analysis system gave a limit-of-detection (LOD) of 0.05 fL for ocPDCH. This is the tracer of choice and is about 100-fold better than that for the DTA. Applied to leak certification, the LOD is about 0.00002 mL/s (0.000075 L/h), a 5 order-of-magnitude improvement over the original leak certification specification. Furthermore, this limit can be attained in a measurement period of 3 to 4 hours instead of days, weeks, or months. A new Leak Certification Facility is also proposed to provide for zonal (three zones) determination of leak rates. The appropriate multizone equations, their solutions, and error analysis have already been derived. A new concept of seal-integrity certification has been demonstrated for a variety of controlled leaks in the range of module leak testing. High structural integrity leaks were shown to have a linear dependence of flow on (Delta)p. The rapid determination of leak rates at different pressures is proposed and is to be determined while subjecting the module to other external force-generating parameters such as vibration, torque, solar intensity, etc
Zig-zag Sort: A Simple Deterministic Data-Oblivious Sorting Algorithm Running in O(n log n) Time
We describe and analyze Zig-zag Sort--a deterministic data-oblivious sorting
algorithm running in O(n log n) time that is arguably simpler than previously
known algorithms with similar properties, which are based on the AKS sorting
network. Because it is data-oblivious and deterministic, Zig-zag Sort can be
implemented as a simple O(n log n)-size sorting network, thereby providing a
solution to an open problem posed by Incerpi and Sedgewick in 1985. In
addition, Zig-zag Sort is a variant of Shellsort, and is, in fact, the first
deterministic Shellsort variant running in O(n log n) time. The existence of
such an algorithm was posed as an open problem by Plaxton et al. in 1992 and
also by Sedgewick in 1996. More relevant for today, however, is the fact that
the existence of a simple data-oblivious deterministic sorting algorithm
running in O(n log n) time simplifies the inner-loop computation in several
proposed oblivious-RAM simulation methods (which utilize AKS sorting networks),
and this, in turn, implies simplified mechanisms for privacy-preserving data
outsourcing in several cloud computing applications. We provide both
constructive and non-constructive implementations of Zig-zag Sort, based on the
existence of a circuit known as an epsilon-halver, such that the constant
factors in our constructive implementations are orders of magnitude smaller
than those for constructive variants of the AKS sorting network, which are also
based on the use of epsilon-halvers.Comment: Appearing in ACM Symp. on Theory of Computing (STOC) 201
Fermi Surface of CrV across the Quantum Critical Point
We have measured de Haas-van Alphen oscillations of CrV, , at high fields for samples on both sides of the quantum critical
point at . For all samples we observe only those oscillations
associated with a single small hole band with magnetic breakdown orbits of the
reconstructed Fermi surface evident for . The absence of oscillations
from Fermi surface sheets most responsible for the spin density wave (SDW) in
Cr for is further evidence for strong fluctuation scattering of these
charge carriers well into the paramagnetic regime. We find no significant mass
enhancement of the carriers in the single observed band at any . An
anomalous field dependence of the dHvA signal for our crystal at
particular orientations of the magnetic field is identified as due to magnetic
breakdown that we speculate results from a field induced SDW transition at high
fields.Comment: 8 pages with 7 figure
Large parallel and perpendicular electric fields on electron spatial scales in the terrestrial bow shock
Large parallel ( 100 mV/m) and perpendicular ( 600 mV/m) electric
fields were measured in the Earth's bow shock by the vector electric field
experiment on the Polar satellite. These are the first reported direct
measurements of parallel electric fields in a collisionless shock. These fields
exist on spatial scales comparable to or less than the electron skin depth (a
few kilometers) and correspond to magnetic field-aligned potentials of tens of
volts and perpendicular potentials up to a kilovolt. The perpendicular fields
are amongst the largest ever measured in space, with energy densities of
of order 10%. The measured parallel electric field
implies that the electrons can be demagnetized, which may result in stochastic
(rather than coherent) electron heating
Fermi Surface Properties of Low Concentration CeLaB: dHvA
The de Haas-van Alphen effect is used to study angular dependent extremal
areas of the Fermi Surfaces (FS) and effective masses of CeLaB alloys for between 0 and 0.05. The FS of these alloys was previously
observed to be spin polarized at low Ce concentration ( = 0.05). This work
gives the details of the initial development of the topology and spin
polarization of the FS from that of unpolarized metallic LaB to that of
spin polarized heavy Fermion CeB .Comment: 7 pages, 9 figures, submitted to PR
Security by Spatial Reference:Using Relative Positioning to Authenticate Devices for Spontaneous Interaction
Spontaneous interaction is a desirable characteristic associated with mobile and ubiquitous computing. The aim is to enable users to connect their personal devices with devices encountered in their environment in order to take advantage of interaction opportunities in accordance with their situation. However, it is difficult to secure spontaneous interaction as this requires authentication of the encountered device, in the absence of any prior knowledge of the device. In this paper we present a method for establishing and securing spontaneous interactions on the basis of emphspatial references that capture the spatial relationship of the involved devices. Spatial references are obtained by accurate sensing of relative device positions, presented to the user for initiation of interactions, and used in a peer authentication protocol that exploits a novel mechanism for message transfer over ultrasound to ensures spatial authenticity of the sender
Localized f electrons in CexLa1-xRhIn5: dHvA Measurements
Measurements of the de Haas-van Alphen effect in CexLa1-xRhIn5 reveal that
the Ce 4f electrons remain localized for all x, with the mass enhancement and
progressive loss of one spin from the de Haas-van Alphen signal resulting from
spin fluctuation effects. This behavior may be typical of antiferromagnetic
heavy fermion compounds, inspite of the fact that the 4f electron localization
in CeRhIn5 is driven, in part, by a spin-density wave instability.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, submitted to PR
Scattered Nuclear Continuum and Broad H-alpha in Cygnus A
We have discovered scattered broad Balmer emission lines in the spectrum of
Cygnus A, using the Keck II telescope. Broad H-alpha appears in polarized flux
from components on either side of the nucleus, and to a lesser extent in the
nucleus. The full-width at half-maximum of broad H-alpha is 26,000 km/s,
comparable to the widest emission lines seen in broad-line radio galaxies.
Scattered AGN light provides a significant contribution to the total flux at
3800 Angstroms (rest) of the western component, where the polarization rises to
16%. The spatially integrated flux of Cygnus A at 5500 Angstroms can be
decomposed into an elliptical galaxy fraction (Fg=0.70), a highly polarized
blue component (FC1=0.15), a less polarized red component (FC=0.09), and a
contribution from the nebular continuum (0.06). Imaging polarimetry shows a
double fan of polarization vectors with circular symmetry which corresponds to
the ionization cone seen in HST images. Our results are consistent with
scattering of light from a hidden quasar of modest luminosity by an extended,
dusty narrow-line region.Comment: 13 pages, 4 figures, Latex, to appear in ApJ Letter
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