88,024 research outputs found
Coding for reliable satellite communications
This research project was set up to study various kinds of coding techniques for error control in satellite and space communications for NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. During the project period, researchers investigated the following areas: (1) decoding of Reed-Solomon codes in terms of dual basis; (2) concatenated and cascaded error control coding schemes for satellite and space communications; (3) use of hybrid coding schemes (error correction and detection incorporated with retransmission) to improve system reliability and throughput in satellite communications; (4) good codes for simultaneous error correction and error detection, and (5) error control techniques for ring and star networks
On the Tidal Dissipation of Obliquity
We investigate tidal dissipation of obliquity in hot Jupiters. Assuming an
initial random orientation of obliquity and parameters relevant to the observed
population, the obliquity of hot Jupiters does not evolve to purely aligned
systems. In fact, the obliquity evolves to either prograde, retrograde or
90^{o} orbits where the torque due to tidal perturbations vanishes. This
distribution is incompatible with observations which show that hot jupiters
around cool stars are generally aligned. This calls into question the viability
of tidal dissipation as the mechanism for obliquity alignment of hot Jupiters
around cool stars.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, accepted at ApJ
Toward a Deterministic Model of Planetary Formation IV: Effects of Type-I Migration
In a further development of a deterministic planet-formation model (Ida & Lin
2004), we consider the effect of type-I migration of protoplanetary embryos due
to their tidal interaction with their nascent disks. During the early embedded
phase of protostellar disks, although embryos rapidly emerge in regions
interior to the ice line, uninhibited type-I migration leads to their efficient
self-clearing. But, embryos continue to form from residual planetesimals at
increasingly large radii, repeatedly migrate inward, and provide a main channel
of heavy element accretion onto their host stars. During the advanced stages of
disk evolution (a few Myr), the gas surface density declines to values
comparable to or smaller than that of the minimum mass nebula model and type-I
migration is no longer an effective disruption mechanism for mars-mass embryos.
Over wide ranges of initial disk surface densities and type-I migration
efficiency, the surviving population of embryos interior to the ice line has a
total mass several times that of the Earth. With this reservoir, there is an
adequate inventory of residual embryos to subsequently assemble into rocky
planets similar to those around the Sun. But, the onset of efficient gas
accretion requires the emergence and retention of cores, more massive than a
few M_earth, prior to the severe depletion of the disk gas. The formation
probability of gas giant planets and hence the predicted mass and semimajor
axis distributions of extrasolar gas giants are sensitively determined by the
strength of type-I migration. We suggest that the observed fraction of
solar-type stars with gas giant planets can be reproduced only if the actual
type-I migration time scale is an order of magnitude longer than that deduced
from linear theories.Comment: 32 pages, 8 figures, 1 table, accepted for publication in Ap
Self-pressurization of a flightweight liquid hydrogen storage tank subjected to low heat flux
Results are presented for an experimental investigation of self-pressurization and thermal stratification of a 4.89 cu m liquid hydrogen (LH2) storage tank subjected to low heat flux (0.35, 2.0, and 3.5 W/sq m) under normal gravity conditions. Tests were performed at fill levels of 83 to 84 percent (by volume). The LH2 tank was representative of future spacecraft tankage, having a low mass-to-volume ratio and high performance multilayer thermal insulation. Results show that the pressure rise rate and thermal stratification increase with increasing heat flux. At the lowest heat flux, the pressure rise rate is comparable to the homogenous rate, while at the highest heat flux, the rate is more than three times the homogeneous rate. It was found that initial conditions have a significant impact on the initial pressure rise rate. The quasi-steady pressure rise rates are nearly independent of the initial condition after an initial transient period has passed
Internal Gravity Waves Modulate the Apparent Misalignment of Exoplanets around Hot Stars
We propose that the observed misalignment between extra-solar planets and
their hot host stars can be explained by angular momentum transport within the
host star. Observations have shown that this misalignment is preferentially
around hot stars, which have convective cores and extended radiative envelopes.
This situation is amenable to substantial angular momentum transport by
internal gravity waves (IGW) generated at the convective-radiative interface.
Here we present numerical simulations of this process and show that IGW can
modulate the surface rotation of the star. With these two- dimensional
simulations we show that IGW could explain the retrograde orbits observed in
systems such as HAT-P-6 and HAT-P-7, however, extension to high obliquity
objects will await future three- dimensional simulations. We note that these
results also imply that individual massive stars should show temporal
variations in their v sini measurements.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures, Accepted for publication in ApJ
In-Plane Spectral Weight Shift of Charge Carriers in
The temperature dependent redistribution of the spectral weight of the
plane derived conduction band of the high
temperature superconductor (T_c = 92.7 K) was studied with wide-band (from 0.01
to 5.6 eV) spectroscopic ellipsometry. A superconductivity - induced transfer
of the spectral weight involving a high energy scale in excess of 1 eV was
observed. Correspondingly, the charge carrier spectral weight was shown to
decrease in the superconducting state. The ellipsometric data also provide
detailed information about the evolution of the optical self-energy in the
normal and superconducting states
A pressure control analysis of cryogenic storage systems
Self-pressurization of cryogenic storage tanks due to heat leak through the thermal protection system is examined along with the performance of various pressure control technologies for application in microgravity environments. Methods of pressure control such as fluid mixing, passive thermodynamic venting, and active thermodynamic venting are analyzed using the homogeneous thermodynamic model. Simplified equations suggested may be used to characterize the performance of various pressure control systems and to design space experiments
Self-pressurization of a flightweight liquid hydrogen tank: Effects of fill level at low wall heat flux
Experimental results are presented for the self pressurization and thermal stratification of a 4.89 cu m liquid hydrogen storage tank subjected to low heat flux (2.0 and 3.5 W/sq m) in normal gravity. The test tank was representative of future spacecraft tankage, having a low mass to volume ratio and high performance multilayer thermal insulation. Tests were performed at fill levels of 29 and 49 pcts. (by volume) and complement previous tests at 83 pct. fill. As the heat flux increases, the pressure rise rate at each fill level exceeds the homogeneous rate by an increasing ratio. Herein, this ratio did not exceed a value of 2. The slowest pressure rise rate was observed for the 49 pct. fill level at both heat fluxes. This result is attributed to the oblate spheroidal tank geometry which introduces the variables of wetted wall area, liquid-vapor interfacial area, and ratio of side wall to bottom heating as a function of fill level or liquid depth. Initial tank thermal conditions were found to affect the initial pressure rise rate. Quasi steady pressure rise rates are independent of starting conditions
Gamma-Ray Bursts are Produced Predominately in the Early Universe
It is known that some observed gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are produced at
cosmological distances and that the GRB production rate may follow the star
formation rate. We model the BATSE-detected intensity distribution of long GRBs
in order to determine their space density distribution and opening angle
distribution. Our main results are: the lower and upper distance limits to the
GRB production are z 0.24 and >10, respectively; the GRB opening angle follows
an exponential distribution and the mean opening angle is about 0.03 radians;
and the peak luminosity appears to be a better standard candle than the total
energy of a GRB.Comment: 12 pages, 2 figur
Intrinsic Josephson Effects in the Magnetic Superconductor RuSr2GdCu2O8
We have measured interlayer current transport in small sized RuSr2GdCu2O8
single crystals. We find a clear intrinsic Josephson effect showing that the
material acts as a natural
superconductor-insulator-ferromagnet-insulator-superconductor superlattice. So
far, we detected no unconventional behavior due to the magnetism of the RuO2
layers.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, to appear in Phys. Rev. Let
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