DOCSLIB.ORG

1959 Research Highlights of the National Bureau of Standards

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
1959 Research Highlights of the National Bureau of Standards UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Frederick H. Mueller, Secretary NATIONAL BUREAU OF STANDARDS A. V. Astin, Director Research Highlights of the National Bureau of Standards Annual Report, Fiscal Year 1959 December 1959 Miscellaneous Publication 229 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington 25, D.C. - Price 55 cents Contents Page 1. General Review 1 Technical Activities 2 Administrative Activities 13 Programs Planned 14 Publications 15 2. Highlights of the Research Program 17 2.1. Electricity and Electronics 17 Automatically measuring high resistance 17, Computable stand- ard of capacitance 17, Electron devices data service 18, Ceramic wafer tubes 18, Methods for testing servo motors 18, Dielectric properties of nylon 18, Preferred circuits 19, Recording spectro- radiometer 19, Electronic metrology 19, Galvanic corrosion of metallic silver 19, Evaluating storage batteries 20, Dry cell specifications 20, International comparison of transformer ratio measurements 20. 2.2. Optics and Metrology 21 Color differences by high-speed computer 22, New color charts 22, Lens aberrations measured 22, Lens distortion measure- ments refined 23, Lens calibration methods analyzed 23, Anti- collision lights for airplanes 23, Visual landing aids devised 24, Photometric equipment improved 24, Bearing ball and cylinder measurements improved 24, Interference fringe path extended 24, Research on improved lightwave length standards 25, Lens design by high-speed computer 26, High-precision gage blocks 26, Advances in refractometry 26, Chemistry of photographic fixation 27, New candlepower standards 27, Records reduction 27, Interferometer for large surfaces 27, Filter and brightness standards 27. 2.3. Heat 28 High -temperature resistance thermometry 29, Pyrometer sym- posium 29, Precise measurement of shock-wave velocity 30, Low -temperature thermometry 31, Viscosity standards and measurements 31, Significance of spectroscopic measurement of flame temperature 32, Thermodynamic properties of the light elements 32, Nitrogen-fluorine bond energy 33, Physico- chemical processes in flames 33, Statistical thermodynamics 33, The nature of superconductivity 34, Compressibility of poly- mers 35, Reaction of chlorine beams with nickel at high temper- atures 35, Free radicals research program 36. 2.4. Atomic and Radiation Physics 38 Spectroscopic research 38, Rydberg constant confirmation 39, Astrophysics 39, High-resolution infrared spectrometer 40, Radiometry 40, Solid-state research 40, Electron scattering 41, Electron polarization 41, Electron instrumentation 41, Low- temperature electron bombardment 42, Physics of negative ions 42, Atomic standards of frequency 43, Scintillation count- ing of neutron emission rates 43, Penetration of gamma radi- ation, 43. Radioactivity standards 44, X-ray studies 44, Linear electron accelerator 44, High energy radiation 45, Gamma- and X-ray calibrations 45, Dosimetry 45. • • • 111 Page 2.5. Chemistry 46 Analysis of tritium -labeled compounds 46, Acid strength in benzene 48, Determination of phosphate, silicate, and arsenate 48, Separating metallic elements in high -temperature alloys 49, Air pollution 49, Molten salt studies 49, Abrasive jet 50, Thick- ness gage 51, International comparison of techniques for deter- mining purity 51, Purification of a special lot of mercury 51, Reagent chemicals 53, Calibrated glass spheres 53, Uranium isotopic standards 53, Spectrometric analysis by X-rays 54, Nuclear magnetic resonance studies 54. 2.6. Mechanics 55 Expanded pressure-calibration service 55, Vibration pickup calibration service 56, Stroboscopic vibration analyzer devised 56, Vibration dampers evaluated 57, New acoustical theory proposed 57, Uniform magnetic field equipment built 57, Improved hygrometers developed 57, Fuel flow-rate calibra- tion facilities 58, Inertial forces in unsteady flow studied 59, Internal progressive waves investigated 59, Instability of laminar flow examined 59, Dynamic properties of materials measured 60, Strain gage evaluation facility 60, Thermocouple reference being determined 60, Jet engine thermocouples tested 61, Jet -engine combustion explored 63. 2.7. Organic and Fibrous Materials 63 Degradation of collagen 64, Water penetration test for sole leather 64, Power loss and operating temperature of tires 64, Glass transitions in the rubber-sulfur system 65, Interlaboratory studies of test methods 65, Electrical resistivity of fabrics 65, Surface tension of high -viscosity liquids 66, Creep of transparent plastics 67, Radiation-resistance polymers 67, Crystallization of crosslinked polymers 67, Thermal stability of polymers 68, Interactions in polymer solutions 68, Physical properties of tooth enamel and dentin 69, Elastomeric dental impression materials 69, Dental fluorometer 69, Dental X-ray radiation 70. 2.8. Metallurgy 71 Heat-resistant materials 71, Creep of high-purity nickel 71, Tensile and yield strengths of die steels 71, Crystalline diffusion 72, Fatigue properties of high-strength steels 72, Surface reac- tions 72, Dislocations in aluminum alloys and brass 72, Growth of metal crystals from their vapor 72, Nuclear magnetic reso- nance 73, Corrosion research 74, Stress corrosion cracking 74, Single crystals 74, Free radicals 74, Preferentially oriented crystals 74, Uranium alloys 74, Improved gage-block materials 75, Titanium data charted 76, Stainless steel properties evaluated 77. 2.9. Mineral Products 77 New data on ferroelectric materials 77, Phase changes in silicates 78, Strength of glass at elevated temperatures 79, Infrared transmitting glasses 80, Physical and chemical properties of glass surfaces 80, Impact coating for rockets and missiles 81, Thermal -radiation standards for space vehicles 81, Phase equilibria in rare -earth oxide systems 83, Solid -gas reactions involving light -metal oxides 83, High -temperature strain gages 84, Dynamic mechanical properties of refractory oxides 85, Infrared absorption spectra of compounds under high pressure 85, Structure of solids containing free radicals 86, Standard X-ray diffraction patterns 87. iv Page 2.10. Building Technology 87 High -temperature thermal conductivity 87, Thermal conductivity reference specimens 88, Physical properties of insulating con- cretes 88, Joint sealing materials 88, Mechanism of fire extin- guishment 89, Surface flammability of materials 89, Standards for refrigerated trailers 89, Underground pipe insulation 90, Asphalt studies 90, Wear resistance of flooring materials 90, Lightning hazards of buildings 90, Safety codes 91. 2.11. Applied Mathematics 91 Numerical analysis 92, Training program 42, New eigenvalue method 92, Stability of recurrence relations 92, Machine trans- lation 93, Mathematical tables 93, Improvement in facilities 93, Digital computation 94, Design of experiments 95, Life testing and reliability 95, Interlaboratory comparisons 95, Statistical services 96, Mathematical physics 96. 2.12. Data-Processing Systems 97 SEAC and analog computing facilities 97, Pilot data processor 98, Components and techniques 98, Cloud height data analyzer 99, Digital circuitry 99, Document retrieval device 100, Pack- aged computer circuitry 100, Digital systems research 100, Flight -maneuver data processing 100, Automatic processing of electrocardiograph data 101, Automatic mail sorting develop- ments 101, Computer data editing and reporting 102, Mecha- nization of patent searching 102, Research information center 102, Additional data processing applications 102. 2.13. Cryogenic Engineering 103 Low -temperature properties of materials 104, Insulation 104, Liquified gas flow 105, Cryogenic equipment 105, Ortho-para conversion of hydrogen 106, Hydrogen distillation 106, Cry- ogenic engineering data 107, Helium properties 107, Gas liquefaction 108. 2.14. Radio Propagation 108 Radio Propagation Physics 108 Electron density measured directly 109, Electron densities measured to 750 km 109, True ionospheric reflection heights recovered 109, Exosphere approximated 110, Upper F-region investigation planned 111, World maps of the ionosphere issued 111, Ionosphere mapped by computer 111, Efficient propagation mode discovered in Pacific 112, Airglow and aurora origin questioned 112, Scattering phenomena in the equatorial ionosphere 112, Ionosphere measured by satellite signals 113, Whistlers' direction demonstrated 113, Data center maintained for ionosphere and airglow 113. Radio Propagation Engineering 113 RF transmission loss predictions improved 114, Radio refrac- tive index mapped 115, Refractometers developed 115, Model range helps predict terrain effects 115, Bistatic radar cross sections measured 115, Attenuation of building mate- rials measured 116, Television field-strength analyzed 116, Tropospheric scatter consulting 116, VLF noise effects meas- ured 117, Frequency and power studied for VLF standard broadcast 117, Radio noise data gathered 117, Teletype errors measured 118. Page 2.14 Radio Propagation—Continued Radio Communication and Systems 119 New division established 119, Arctic communication studied 119, Transarctic terminal sought 120, Ionospheric signals studied 120, Meteor burst communication system 120, Modulation techniques investigated 120, Special antennas developed 121, Polar icecap conductivity 121, Pulse propa- gation problem solved 122, Radio navigation studies made 122, Space communication studies begin 122. 2.15. Radio Standards 122 Attenuation calibration service 122, Field-strength standards being developed 123, Frequency standards improved
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Walter Gordy 1909–1985
    NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES WALTER GORDY 1909–1985 A Biographical Memoir by FRANK C. DE LUCIA AND BRENDA P. WINNEWISSER Any opinions expressed in this memoir are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Academy of Sciences. Biographical Memoir COPYRIGHT 2006 NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES WASHINGTON, D.C. Photograph by Whitley-Strawbridge Inc. WALTER GORDY April 20, 1909–October 6, 1985 BY FRANK C. DE LUCIA AND BRENDA P. WINNEWISSER ALTER GORDY WAS ONE of the founding fathers of micro- W wave spectroscopy, a man of vision, scientific taste, disarming humor, and great personal warmth. In 1948 he wrote the first comprehensive review of the field for Re- views of Modern Physics, envisioning much of its future. Early in the development of the field he recognized the scientific and technical importance of expanding into the millimeter and submillimeter spectral regions and devoted a significant portion of his efforts over the next 30 years toward this end. His vision of the importance of the shorter wavelengths has come to fruition in the explosion of fields as varied and vital as interstellar radio astronomy and inves- tigations of the most fundamental atomic and molecular interactions, as well as the current enthusiasm for the terahertz spectral region. Gordy also had the foresight to see the possibilities of applying microwave techniques to the study of biological problems and in doing so became one of the pioneers in biophysics. He opened the field of study of electron spin resonance of radiation damage in both amorphous and later crystalline organic and biologi- cal materials.
    [Show full text]
  • NORMAN F RAMSEY HANS G DEHMELT and WOLFGANG PAUL
    Physics 1989 NORMAN F RAMSEY for the invention of the separated oscillatory fields method and its use in the hydrogen maser and other atomic clocks HANS G DEHMELT and WOLFGANG PAUL for the development of the ion trap technique THE NOBEL PRIZE IN PHYSICS Speech by Professor Ingvar Lindgren of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. Translation from the Swedish text. Your Majesties, Your Royal Highnesses, Ladies and Gentlemen. This year’s Nobel Prize in Physics is shared between three scientists, Professor Norman Ramsey, Harvard University, Professor Hans Dehmelt, University of Washington, Seattle, and Professor Wolfgang Paul, University of Bonn, for “contributions of importance for the development of atomic precision spectroscopy. ” The works of the laureates have led to dramatic advances in the field of precision spectroscopy in recent years. Methods have been developed that form the basis for our present definition of time, and these techniques are applied for such disparate purposes as testing Einstein’s general theory of relativity and measuring continental drift. An atom has certain fixed energy levels, and transition between these levels can take place by means of emission or absorption of electromagnetic radiation, such as light. Transition between closely spaced levels can be induced by means of radio-frequency radiation, and this forms the basis for so-called resonance methods. The first method of this kind was introduced by Professor I. Rabi in 1937, and the same basic idea underlies the resonance methods developed later, such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), electron-spin resonance (ESR) and optical pumping. In Rabi’s method a beam of atoms passes through an oscillating field, and if the frequency of that field is right, transition between atomic levels can take place.
    [Show full text]
  • Minutes of the Meeting at Washington
    P H YSICAI. REVI EW VOLI,'ME 79, NUM BER 1 JL'LV i i950 Proceedings of the American Physical Society INUTEs oF THE MEETING AT WAsHINGToN, APRIL 27—29, 1950 HE 299th meeting of the American Physical except for the renumbering of the pages. Preceding Society, being the 1950 Spring Meeting, was these pages are printed the "errata" which the con- held at Washington, D. C., on Thursday, Friday, tributors of abstracts have sent to the American and Saturday, April 27, 28, and 29, 1.950. Most of Institute of Physics since the Bulletin appeared. our recent meetings have been unique in one im- The banquet of the Society was held on the portant feature or another; this one comprised Friday evening in the Grand Ballroom of the May- the greatest number of contributed (ten-minute) flower Hotel, and was adorned by after-dinner papers on record, amounting to 273. Since —more speeches by W. V. Houston and H. D. Smyth. through accident than through design —the number The Council met on the Wednesday preceding of invited papers was unusually small and there the meeting of the Society, and selected to Member- were no symposia, the total number of papers did ship one hundred and five candidates whose names not set a new record, and the available halls were appear hereinafter. It will be of interest to our ample for our meetings. We are grateful to the members to learn that the work of preparing a I ocal Committee, headed as in recent previous thirty-year Author and Subject Index of The years by Claire Marton and Hugh Odishaw, who Physical Revim is well under way.
    [Show full text]
  • ED026268.Pdf
    DOCUMENT RESUME 11 ED 026 268 SE 006 034 By -Barisch, Sylvia Directory of Physics & Astronomy Faculties 1968-1969, United States,Canada, Mexico. American Inst. of Physics, New York, N.Y. .. Report No-R-135.7 Pub Date 68 Note-213p. Available from-The American Institute of Physics, 335 East 45 Street, NewYork, N.Y. 10017 ($5.00) EDRS Price MF-$1.00 HC-$10.75 Descriptors-*Astronomy, College Faculty, *College Science, Curriculum, Directories,Educational Programs, Graduate Study, *Physics, *Physics Teachers, Undergraduate Study Identifiers.- Ar vrican Institute of Physics This directory is the tenth edition published by the AmericanInstitute of Physics listing colleges and universities which offer degreeprograms in physics, astronomy and astrophysics, and the staff members who teach thecourses. Institutions in the United States, Canada, and Mexicoare indexed separately, both geographically and alphabetically. Also included isan alphabetical indek of personnel. The document is available for sale by Department DAPD, the American Institute ofPhysics, 335 East 45 Street, New York, New York 10017, price $5.00. (GR) -.. --',..- 4ttsioropm.righ /RECTO PHYSICS & ASTR ...Y FACULTIES1 1969 UNITED STATES CANADA I MEXICO s - - - i) - - . r_ tt U S DEPARTMENT Of HEALTH EDUCATION & WELFARE OFFICE Of EDUCATION THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN REKOD:_FD EXACTLY AS RECEIV:D FROM THE )ERSON OR ORGANIZATION ORISINATING IT POINTS Of VIEW OR OPINIONS S'ATEJ DO NOT NECESSARILY PEPRESENT OFFICIAL OFFICE OF EDUCATION PCSITION OR PO'..ICY , * , + t ..+, ,..,.-,. .1. Ca:. - -,.. - , ts _ - 41 ) s: -. - ',',...3,,,_ c -- - .-,, '0'- _ -, tt't-,), _ .'Y .-ct, ,;,---,,,,,,,- t--, -.rfe - 4 ;:': e-...,- : 0:4_, O'i -.. - t _ *s, :::-.", r.,--4, .4 --A,-, 0 -.,,, -- ....,-_:134,,- - - 0 ., Q9 , 0i '.% .J, ".t..
    [Show full text]