Physics Commons^™

Characterization Of Eight Potentially Hazardous Near Earth Asteroids: Rotation Period Analysis And Structure Modeling Via Light Curve Inversion Techniques, Stacy Jo Hicks

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The term “homeland security”, seems to have become synonymous with terrorism in the minds of the general public. However, there are other threats to the security of the United States homeland that can be just as, if not more, devastating than terrorism. Included among these other threats is the potential of an asteroid collision with Earth. Historically, asteroid impact events have been responsible for the devastation of our planet and many of the mass extinction events encountered throughout the geologic record. Knowledge of physical parameters such as structure and rotational dynamics of the asteroid are critical parameters in developing interception …

Solar Energy Conversion And Control Using Organic Photovoltaic Cells, Kurt Wade Woods

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Organic photovoltaic (OPV) cells are advanced, newly emerging technologies that are lightweight, mechanically flexible devices with highthroughput processes from low cost material in a variety of colors. Rathnayake et al. of Western Kentucky University have developed a nanostructure-based OPV cell. Presented in this thesis is a model and simulation of a generalized PV powered system that can predict the performance of solar arrays in various environmental conditions. The simulation has been carried out in Matlab/Simulink, and upon entering the cell’s parameters, it provides key electrical characteristics such as the cell’s I-V curve and efficiency information. The total system that is …

Simulative Investigation Of The Detection Of Modes Of Luminosity Variation In Astrophysical Sources, James Collins

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Five astronomical data analysis methods were evaluated, using computer simulation techniques, for minimum detection levels, periodicity detection, and parameter estimation sensitivities. The evaluation of these methods was accomplished using three basic waveforms with the addition of ten “random” noise samples from a Gaussian distribution of known parameters. The chi-square and t-test methods were evaluated in detecting low-amplitude variability and brightness level shifts. Results indicate both methods have a strong dependence on the estimation of the standard deviation (σ) where a 0.1 change in σ will affect detection rates by ten to twenty-five percent at the ninety-five percent confidence level. The …

Ultraviolet Photosimulated Thermoluminescence Of Lithium Flouride, Martin Payne

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

TLD-100 (lithium fluoride) thermoluminescence dosimeters are widely employed for the detection of ionizing radiations. This paper shows that these dosimeters may also serve as practical germicidal ultraviolet radiation dosimeters. To measure ultraviolet radiation, the TLD-100 dosimeters are first exposed to 500,000 roentgens of gamma radiation and then annealed at 300°C. Subsequent dosage of ultraviolet radiation may be determined by observation of photostimulated thermoluminescence of the crystal. The presented data indicate that the thermoluminescence response is linear for exposures up to 6,000 µjoule/cm² and independent of exposure rate from 0.1 µ watt/cm² to above 50 µwatt/cm². Optical …

Determination Of (N, 2n) Reaction Isomeric Cross Section For 87rb, 112cd, 138bz, And 186w Using 14 Mev Neutrons, Hsiao-Chueh Kao

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

The purpose of this investigation was to measure the cross section for each of the reactions 87_{Rb(n, 2n)} 86m_Rb, 112_{Cd(n, 2n)}111m_Cd, 138_{Ba(n, 2n)} 137m_Ba and 186_{W(n, 2n)} 185m_W at 14.7 ± 0.03 MeV incident neutron energy. The incident neutron flux was determined during each irradiation from the activity produced in copper or aluminum disks between which the isotopically enriched sample was sandwiched. The 63_{Cu(n, 2n)}62_Cu and 27_{Al(n, p)}27_Mg reaction cross sections were assumed to be 593 ± 45 mb and 73 ± 5 …

X-Ray Induced Luminescence Of Sapphire And Ruby, Ivan Collier Jr.

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Over the past decade the luminescence properties of sapphire (∝-AL₂O₃) and ruby (Al₂O₃:Cr₂O₃) have been the subject of many investigations because of their importance in materials technology. Sapphire and ruby are at present used as lasing materials, radiation dosimeters, and as optical windows. In order that these operations may be made more efficient, and that other useful luminescent properties may be systematically explored and developed, much attention has been given to understanding the luminescent mechanisms from the standpoint of the physics of the solid state. However, mechanisms have …

-Ray Induced Luminescence Of Ruby, Wayne Cooke

Masters Theses & Specialist Projects

Since the advent of the laser there has appeared a multitude of scientific papers describing the various parameters that would affect the lasing action of the ruby laser. Many investigations have been carried out to determine the efficiency of the R-line fluorescence in ruby: however very little work has been done concerning the X-ray-induced luminescence of ruby.

Certainly the applications to laser technology would be of sufficient importance to merit a study of ruby under continuous irradiation, although this was not the main stimulus that motivated this investigation. The original program of study was undertaken to determine if there existed …