18,665 research outputs found
Theoretical study of production of unique glasses in space
The potential of producing the glassy form of selected materials in the weightless, containerless nature of space processing is examined through the development of kinetic relationships describing nucleation and crystallization phenomena. Transformation kinetics are applied to a well-characterized system (SiO2), an excellent glass former (B2O3), and a poor glass former (Al2O3) by conventional earth processing methods. Viscosity and entropy of fusion are shown to be the primary materials parameters controlling the glass forming tendency. For multicomponent systems diffusion-controlled kinetics and heterogeneous nucleation effects are considered. An analytical empirical approach is used to analyze the mullite system. Results are consistent with experimentally observed data and indicate the promise of mullite as a future space processing candidate
Space processing of chalcogenide glasses
Chalcogenide glasses are discussed as good infrared transmitters, possessing the strength, corrosion resistance, and scale-up potential necessary for large 10.6-micron windows. The disadvantage of earth-produced chalcogenide glasses is shown to be an infrared absorption coefficient which is unacceptably high relative to alkali halides. This coefficient is traced to optical nonhomogeneities resulting from environmental and container contamination. Space processing is considered as a means of improving the infrared transmission quality of chalcogenides and of eliminating the following problems: optical inhomogeneities caused by thermal currents and density fluctuation in the l-g earth environment; contamination from the earth-melting crucible by oxygen and other elements deleterious to infrared transmission; and, heterogeneous nucleation at the earth-melting crucible-glass interface
Space processing of chalcogenide glass
The manner in which the weightless, containerless nature of in-space processing can be successfully utilized to improve the quality of infrared transmitting chalcogenide glasses is determined. The technique of space processing chalcogenide glass was developed, and the process and equipment necessary to do so was defined. Earthbound processing experiments with As2S3 and G28Sb12Se60 glasses were experimented with. Incorporated into these experiments is the use of an acoustic levitation device
The [alpha/Fe] Ratios in Dwarf Galaxies: Evidence for a Non-universal Stellar Initial Mass Function?
It is well established that the [alpha/Fe] ratios in elliptical galaxies
increase with galaxy mass. This relation holds also for early-type dwarf
galaxies, although it seems to steepen at low masses. The [alpha/Fe] vs. mass
relation can be explained assuming that smaller galaxies form over longer
timescales (downsizing), allowing a larger amount of Fe (mostly produced by
long-living Type Ia Supernovae) to be released and incorporated into newly
forming stars. Another way to obtain the same result is by using a flatter
initial mass function (IMF) in large galaxies, increasing in this way the
number of Type II Supernovae and therefore the production rate of
alpha-elements. The integrated galactic initial mass function (IGIMF) theory
predicts that the higher the star formation rate, the flatter the IMF. We have
checked, by means of semi-analytical calculations, that the IGIMF theory,
combined with the downsizing effect (i.e. the shorter duration of the star
formation in larger galaxies), well reproduces the observed [alpha/Fe] vs. mass
relation. In particular, we show a steepening of this relation in dwarf
galaxies, in accordance with the available observations.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures; to appear in the proceedings of the JENAM 2010
Symposium on Dwarf Galaxies (Lisbon, September 9-10, 2010
Theoretical study of production of unique glasses in space
Analytical functional relationships describing homogeneous nucleation and crystallization in various supercooled liquids were developed. The time and temperature dependent relationships of nucleation and crystallization (intrinsic properties) are being used to relate glass forming tendency to extrinsic parameters such as cooling rate through computer simulation. Single oxide systems are being studied initially to aid in developing workable kinetic models and to indicate the primary materials parameters affecting glass formation. The theory and analytical expressions developed for simple systems is then extended to complex oxide systems. A thorough understanding of nucleation and crystallization kinetics of glass forming systems provides a priori knowledge of the ability of a given system to form a glass
Letters between C. Larsen and William Kerr\u27s secretary
Letters concerning a position in the modern languages department at Utah Agricultural College
Southwest-Trending Striations in the Green Mountains, Central Vermont
Guidebook for field trips in Vermont: New England Intercollegiate Geological Conference, 79th annual meeting, October 16, 17 and 18, 1987: Trips C-
Bulge Globular Clusters in Spiral Galaxies
There is now strong evidence that the metal-rich globular clusters (GC) near
the center of our Galaxy are associated with the Galactic bulge rather than the
disk as previously thought. Here we extend the concept of bulge GCs to the GC
systems of nearby spiral galaxies. In particular, the kinematic and metallicity
properties of the GC systems favor a bulge rather than a disk origin. The
number of metal-rich GCs normalized by the bulge luminosity is roughly constant
(i.e. bulge S_N ~ 1) in nearby spirals, and this value is similar to that for
field ellipticals when only the red (metal--rich) GCs are considered. We argue
that the metallicity distributions of GCs in spiral and elliptical galaxies are
remarkably similar, and that they obey the same correlation of mean GC
metallicity with host galaxy mass. We further suggest that the metal-rich GCs
in spirals are the direct analogs of the red GCs seen in ellipticals. The
formation of a bulge/spheroidal stellar system is accompanied by the formation
of metal-rich GCs. The similarities between GC systems in spiral and elliptical
galaxies appear to be greater than the differences.Comment: 5 pages, Latex, 2 figures, 1 table, Accepted for publication in ApJ
Letter
UHF and VHF radar observations of thunderstorms
A study of thunderstorms was made in the Summer of 1985 with the 430-MHz and 50-MHz radars at the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico. Both radars use the 300-meter dish, which gives a beam width of less than 2 degrees even at these long wavelengths. Though the radars are steerable, only vertical beams were used in this experiment. The height resolution was 300 and 150 meters for the UHF and VHF, respectively. Lightning echoes, as well as returns from precipitation and clear-air turbulence were detected with both wavelengths. Large increases in the returned power were found to be coincident with increasing downward vertical velocities at UHF, whereas at VHF the total power returned was relatively constant during the life of a storm. This was attributed to the fact that the VHF is more sensitive to scattering from the turbulence-induced inhomogeneities in the refractive index and less sensitive to scatter from precipitation particles. On occasion, the shape of the Doppler spectra was observed to change with the occurrence of a lightning discharge in the pulse volume. Though the total power and mean reflectivity weighted Doppler velocity changed little during these events, the power is Doppler frequency bins near that corresponding to the updraft did increase substantially within a fraction of a second after a discharge was detected in the beam. This suggests some interaction between precipitation and lightning
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