25,253 research outputs found
Microscopic observations of X-ray and gamma-ray induced decomposition of ammonium perchlorate crystals
The X-ray and gamma-ray induced decomposition of ammonium perchlorate was studied by optical, transmission, and scanning electron microscopy. This material is a commonly used oxidizer in solid propellents which could be employed in deep-space probes, and where they will be subjected to a variety of radiations for as long as ten years. In some respects the radiation-induced damage closely resembles the effects produced by thermal decomposition, but in other respects the results differ markedly. Similar radiation and thermal effects include the following: (1) irregular or ill-defined circular etch pits are formed in both cases; (2) approximately the same size pits are produced; (3) the pit density is similar; (4) the c face is considerably more reactive than the m face; and (5) most importantly, many of the etch pits are aligned in crystallographic directions which are the same for thermal or radiolytic decomposition. Thus, dislocations play an important role in the radiolytic decomposition process
Microscopic theory of Cooper pair beam splitters based on carbon nanotubes
We analyze microscopically a Cooper pair splitting device in which a central
superconducting lead is connected to two weakly coupled normal leads through a
carbon nanotube. We determine the splitting efficiency at resonance in terms of
geometrical and material parameters, including the effect of spin-orbit
scattering. While the efficiency in the linear regime is limited to 50% and
decay exponentially as a function of the width of the superconducting region we
show that it can rise up to in the non-linear regime for certain
regions of the stability diagram.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figure
Context unification is in PSPACE
Contexts are terms with one `hole', i.e. a place in which we can substitute
an argument. In context unification we are given an equation over terms with
variables representing contexts and ask about the satisfiability of this
equation. Context unification is a natural subvariant of second-order
unification, which is undecidable, and a generalization of word equations,
which are decidable, at the same time. It is the unique problem between those
two whose decidability is uncertain (for already almost two decades). In this
paper we show that the context unification is in PSPACE. The result holds under
a (usual) assumption that the first-order signature is finite.
This result is obtained by an extension of the recompression technique,
recently developed by the author and used in particular to obtain a new PSPACE
algorithm for satisfiability of word equations, to context unification. The
recompression is based on performing simple compression rules (replacing pairs
of neighbouring function symbols), which are (conceptually) applied on the
solution of the context equation and modifying the equation in a way so that
such compression steps can be in fact performed directly on the equation,
without the knowledge of the actual solution.Comment: 27 pages, submitted, small notation changes and small improvements
over the previous tex
Electromagnetic radiation screening of microcircuits for long life applications
The utility of X-rays as a stimulus for screening high reliability semiconductor microcircuits was studied. The theory of the interaction of X-rays with semiconductor materials and devices was considered. Experimental measurements of photovoltages, photocurrents, and effects on specified parameters were made on discrete devices and on microcircuits. The test specimens included discrete devices with certain types of identified flaws and symptoms of flaws, and microcircuits exhibiting deviant electrical behavior. With a necessarily limited sample of test specimens, no useful correlation could be found between the X-ray-induced electrical response and the known or suspected presence of flaws
A study of solid-propellant vaporization and diffusion processes Final technical report
Vaporization rate and diffusion coefficient determined for organic additives to polyurethane solid propellants - dioctyl adipate and ferrocen
Development of advanced digital techniques for data acquisition processing and communication Interim scientific report
Image correlation and computerized simulation applied to data acquisition and imaging technique
The steady state in noncollinear magnetic multilayers
There are at least two different putative steady state solutions for current
across noncollinear magnetic multilayers; one has a discontinuity in the spin
current at the interface the other is continuous. We compare the resistance of
the two and find the solution with the continuous spin currents is lower. By
using the entropic principle we can state that this solution is a better
estimate of the resistance for a noncollinear magneticComment: 14 pages, 4 figures,Submitted to Physical Review
Different steady states for spin currents in noncollinear multilayers
We find there are at least two different steady states for transport across
noncollinear magnetic multilayers. In the conventional one there is a
discontinuity in the spin current across the interfaces which has been
identified as the source of current induced magnetic reversal; in the one
advocated herein the spin torque arises from the spin accumulation transverse
to the magnetization of a magnetic layer. These two states have quite different
attributes which should be discerned by current experiments.Comment: 8 pages, no figure. Accepted for publication in Journal of Physics:
Condensed Matte
Development of technology for modeling of a 1/8-scale dynamic model of the shuttle Solid Rocket Booster (SRB)
A NASTRAN analysis of the solid rocket booster (SRB) substructure of the space shuttle 1/8-scale structural dynamics model. The NASTRAN finite element modeling capability was first used to formulate a model of a cylinder 10 in. radius by a 200 in. length to investigate the accuracy and adequacy of the proposed grid point spacing. Results were compared with a shell analysis and demonstrated relatively accurate results for NASTRAN for the lower modes, which were of primary interest. A finite element model of the full SRB was then formed using CQUAD2 plate elements containing membrane and bending stiffness and CBAR offset bar elements to represent the longerons and frames. Three layers of three-dimensional CHEXAI elements were used to model the propellant. This model, consisting of 4000 degrees of freedom (DOF) initially, was reduced to 176 DOF using Guyan reduction. The model was then submitted for complex Eigenvalue analysis. After experiencing considerable difficulty with attempts to run the complete model, it was split into two substructres. These were run separately and combined into a single 116 degree of freedom A set which was successfully run. Results are reported
A program to evaluate a control system based on feedback of aerodynamic pressure differentials, part 1
The use of pressure differentials in a flight control system was evaluated. The pressure profile around the test surface was determined using two techniques: (1) windtunnel data (actual); and (2) NASA/Langley Single Element Airfoil Computer Program (theoretical). The system designed to evaluate the concept of using pressure differentials is composed of a sensor drive and power amplifiers, actuator, position potentiometer, and a control surface. The characteristics (both desired and actual) of the system and each individual component were analyzed. The desired characteristics of the system as a whole are given. The flight control system developed, the testing procedures and data reduction methods used, and theoretical frequency response analysis are described
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