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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 181 records · Page 10
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2019

Tuning high- Q nonlinear dynamics in a disordered quantum magnet

Quantum states cohere and interfere. Atoms arranged imperfectly in a solid rarely display these properties. Here we demonstrate an exception in a disordered quantum magnet that divides itself into nearly isolated subsystems. We probe these coherent spin clusters by driving the system nonlinearly and measuring the resulting hole in the linear spectral response. The Fano shape of the hole encodes the incoherent lifetime as well as coherent mixing of the localized excitations. For the Ising magnet LiHo 0.045 Y 0.955 F 4 , the quality factor Q for spectral holes can be as high as 100,000. We tune the dynamics by sweeping the Fano mixing parameter q through zero via the ac pump amplitude as well as a dc transverse field. The zero crossing of q is associated with a dissipationless response at the drive frequency. Identifying localized two-level systems in a dense and disordered magnet advances the search for qubit platforms emerging from strongly interacting, many-body systems.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2020

A 100 kW 1.3 GHz Magnetron System with Amplitude and Phase Control

Calabazas Creek Research, Inc., Fermilab, and Communications & Power Industries, LLC, developed a 100 kW peak, 10 kW average, 1.3 GHz, magnetron-based, RF system for driving accelerators. Efficiency varied between 81% and 87%. Phase locking uses a novel approach that provides fast amplitude and phase control when coupled into a superconducting accelerator cavity [1]. The system was successfully tested at Fermilab and produced 100 kW in 1.5 ms pulses at a repetition rate of 2 pps. A locking bandwidth of 0.9 MHz was achieved with a drive signal of 269 W injected through a 4 port circulator. The phase locking signal was 25 dB below the magnetron output power. The spectrum of the phase locked magnetron was suitable for driving accelerator cavities. Phase modulation was demonstrated to 50 kHz (the limit of the available driver source). The average power was limited by available conditioning time. Scaling indicates 42 kW of average power should be achievable. Estimated cost is less than $1/Watt of delivered RF power, exclusive of power supplies or modulators. System design and performance measurements will be presented.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Machine learning-based interatomic potential development and phase transition analysis of ferroelectric hafnium dioxide

The ferroelectric phase (𝑃⁢𝑐⁢𝑎⁢2 1 , which is in orthorhombic symmetry) of hafnium dioxide (HfO 2 ) has gained much attention due to its potential applications in nanoelectronics and advanced memory devices. However, its complex phase behavior under external stimuli, such as pressure and temperature, remains a subject of intense investigation. This study focuses on developing a machine learning-based interatomic potential (MLIP) that is trained with data from density-functional theory (DFT) calculations to simulate phase transitions and mechanical properties of HfO 2 . The developed MLIP predicts lattice parameters, equations of state, bulk and shear moduli, and elastic constants that closely align with DFT predictions for several phases and at various pressures. Once validated, the MLIP is used to investigate the phase transitions of ferroelectric HfO 2 (𝑃⁢𝑐⁢𝑎⁢2 1 ) under both isobaric and constant stress conditions at elevated temperatures ranging from 200 to 2500 K. We used several complementary methods, including local symmetry identification, radial distribution function, and x-ray diffraction characterization, to identify interesting phase transitions among several competitive hafnia phases predicted from our simulations. The suggested methods uniformly reveal that under pure deviatoric condition, the system favors a transition from the orthorhombic 𝑃⁢𝑐⁢𝑎⁢2 1 phase to a tetragonal (𝑃⁢4 2 /𝑛⁢𝑚⁢𝑐) phase, whereas a zero stress condition drives the system from the 𝑃⁢𝑐⁢𝑎⁢2 1 phase to another orthorhombic (𝑃⁢𝑏⁢𝑐⁢𝑛) phase. These findings provide crucial insights into stress and temperature-induced phase behavior of hafnia, guiding future experimental and theoretical studies for optimizing hafnia-based ferroelectric devices.

Ferroelectric HfO2↗
DOE OSTI2022

Quantum simulation of nonequilibrium dynamics and thermalization in the Schwinger model

In this work, we present simulations of nonequilibrium dynamics of quantum field theories on digital quantum computers. As a representative example, we consider the Schwinger model, a (1+1)-dimensional U(1) gauge theory, coupled through a Yukawa-type interaction to a thermal environment described by a scalar field theory. We use the Hamiltonian formulation of the Schwinger model discretized on a spatial lattice. With the thermal scalar fields traced out, the Schwinger model can be treated as an open quantum system and its real-time dynamics are governed by a Lindblad equation in the Markovian limit. The interaction with the environment ultimately drives the system to thermal equilibrium. In the quantum Brownian motion limit, the Lindblad equation is related to a field theoretical Caldeira-Leggett equation. By using the Stinespring dilation theorem with ancillary qubits, we perform studies of both the nonequilibrium dynamics and the preparation of a thermal state in the Schwinger model using IBM's simulator and quantum devices. The real-time dynamics of field theories as open quantum systems and the thermal state preparation studied here are relevant for a variety of applications in nuclear and particle physics, quantum information and cosmology.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Modeling of Induction Motors and Variable Speed Drives for Multi-Domain System Simulations Using Modelica and the OpenIPSL Library

This paper introduces an innovative method for characterizing, implementing, and validating both three-phase and single-phase induction motor models, accompanied by a variable speed drive model. The primary goal is to investigate interactions between the electrical power grid and other dynamic domains (e.g., thermofluidic) that impact motor/load drive behavior. Our approach involves establishing a mechanical interface based on a physically meaningful equation linking motor torque/speed to the electrical model in the phasor domain. This allows seamless integration of diverse domain subsystems into a unified multi-domain model using Modelica v4.0.0 and the OpenIPSL library v3.0.1, overcoming co-simulation limitations. The proposed model, which requires only one Modelica-compliant tool for simulation, introduces additional dynamics through the mechanical interface, enabling explicit simulation of load disturbances based on constitutive physics. This deepens our understanding of dynamic interactions between the electrical power domain and other subsystems connected through the motor. We detail the modeled components using mathematical equations and textual descriptions, emphasizing the Modelica modeling approach. Simulation examples validate the implementation, demonstrating the multi-domain modeling capabilities of the newly developed components.

Computer Science↗
DOE OSTI2026

Optimized Gear Selection to Maximize Energy Savings in Electric Traction Drives for Medium and Heavy Duty Vehicles

Multi‑gear transmission systems are commonly used in electric traction drives for medium and heavy‑duty vehicles, while most passenger‑vehicle electric drivetrains rely on a single fixed ratio to reduce cost, weight, and complexity. Using multiple gear ratios can enable downsizing of the motor and inverter while still meeting performance requirements. Additionally, appropriately chosen ratios allow the motor to operate more frequently in high‑efficiency regions, improving overall energy usage and reducing operating costs over the drive cycle. This paper presents a systematic approach for selecting optimal gear ratios for electric drive systems. A neural‑network model is first developed to represent motor losses across the full torque–speed range using data generated from finite element analysis. This model enables fast, accurate evaluation of motor efficiency under varying operating conditions. A genetic‑algorithm‑based optimization framework is then applied to identify gear ratios that maximize energy cost savings over the drive cycle, with the resulting optimal ratios stored for real‑time implementation.

Gadiyar, Nishanth [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000348267524)↗
DOE OSTI2025

Generalizing multiple memories from a single drive: The hysteron latch

Far-from-equilibrium systems can form memories of previous deformations or driving. In systems from sheared glassy materials to buckling beams to crumpled sheets, this behavior is dominated by return-point memory, in which revisiting a past extremum of driving restores the system to a previous state. Cyclic driving with both positive and negative strains forms multiple nested memories, as in a single-dial combination lock, while asymmetric driving (only positive strain) cannot. We study this case in a general model of hysteresis that considers discrete elements called hysterons. We show how two hysterons with a frustrated interaction can violate return-point memory, realizing multiple memories of asymmetric driving. This reveals a general principle for designing systems that store sequences of cyclic driving, whether symmetric or asymmetric. In disordered systems, asymmetric driving is a sensitive tool for the direct measurement of frustration.

Science & Technology - Other Topics↗
DOE OSTI2019

Using a system’s equilibrium behavior to reduce its energy dissipation in nonequilibrium processes

Significance Biomolecular machines implement many vital activities in cells and must operate quickly and in functional directions, requiring energy dissipation. Recent experiments reveal that some evolved machines are quite energetically efficient, engendering interest in design principles that achieve such high efficiency. Recent theory predicts how to use equilibrium measurements (in the absence of driving) to design ways to drive a system to minimize energy dissipation. Here, we experimentally demonstrate the utility of this theory for designing efficient driving processes (“protocols”) by rapidly unfolding and folding single DNA hairpins. We show that such designed protocols systematically and significantly reduce energy dissipation over large variations of driving speed and DNA hairpin friction. Similar protocols may underlie the high efficiency observed in molecular machines.

Tafoya, Sara↗
DOE OSTI2019

Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle Driving and Fueling Behavior

The objectives of this project are to validate hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles in real-world settings and to identify the current status and evolution of the technology. The analysis objectively assesses progress toward targets and market needs defined by the U.S. Department of Energy and stakeholders, provides feedback to hydrogen research and development, and publishes results for key stakeholder use and investment decisions. Fiscal year 2018 objectives focused on analysis and reporting of fuel cell electric vehicle driving range, fuel economy, drive and fill behaviors, durability, fill performance, and fuel cell performance. This report specifically addresses the topics of driving range, fuel economy, drive and fill behaviors, and fill performance.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Reversible, irreversible, and mixed regimes for periodically driven disks in random obstacle arrays

We examine an assembly of repulsive disks interacting with a random obstacle array under a periodic drive and find a transition from reversible to irreversible dynamics as a function of drive amplitude or disk density. At low densities and drives, the system rapidly forms a reversible state where the disks return to their exact positions at the end of each cycle. In contrast, at high amplitudes or high densities, the system enters an irreversible state where the disks exhibit normal diffusion. Between these two regimes, there can be an intermediate irreversible state where most of the system is reversible, but localized irreversible regions are present that are prevented from spreading through the system due to a screening effect from the obstacles. Here, we also find states that we term “combinatorial reversible states” in which the disks return to their original positions after multiple driving cycles. In these states, individual disks exchange positions but form the same configurations during the subcycles of the larger reversible cycle.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2019

On-Road Fuel Cell Electric Vehicles Evaluation: Overview

This report presents an overview of an evaluation of on-road fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The project addressed the need for current, on-road FCEV data and sought to validate improved performance and longer durability from comprehensive sets of early FCEVs, including early market vehicles. This report provides an overview of the evaluation project and partners, describes NREL's evaluation approach, and presents a summary of the results. Detailed results for durability, fuel economy, deployment and driving behavior, and specifications are published in separate reports.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Interplay Between Metastability and Mechanically Induced Structural Instability in CsPbBr 3 Photovoltaic Perovskite

An atomic-level understanding of the underlying structural metastability is still absent in halide perovskite photovoltaic systems. Focusing on the model material CsPbBr 3 , the impact of mechanically induced atomic structure alteration is elucidated through structural modeling and X-ray diffraction measurements. Sudden Cs–Br bond breaking drives the system metastability, where the first-order transition arises from cation-halide bond strain relief by severing the corner connectivity of the PbBr 6 units. The pressure–volume and entropy terms govern the Gibbs free-energy landscape in halide perovskites. In conclusion, metastability is revealed as a critical factor limiting the performance of lead halide perovskites under extreme but natural environments.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2026

Quantum kinetic modeling of KEEN waves in a warm-dense regime

We report the first fully kinetic, quantum study of kinetic electrostatic electron nonlinear (KEEN) waves, showing that quantum diffraction systematically erodes the classical trapping mechanism, narrows harmonic locking to the fundamental, and hastens post-drive decay. Electrons are evolved with a second-order Strang-split 1D1V Wigner–Poisson solver that couples conservative semi-Lagrangian WENO advection to an analytic Fourier space update for the non-local Wigner term, while ions remain classical. We focus on collisionless dynamics in a weakly coupled regime, providing a controlled baseline before collisional extensions. Short, frequency-tuned ponderomotive pulses drive KEEN formation in a uniform Maxwellian plasma; as the dimensionless quantum parameter H rises from the classical limit to values relevant to warm-dense matter, doped semiconductors, and 2D electron systems, the drive threshold increases, higher harmonics are damped, trapped electron vortices diffuse, and the subplasma electrostatic energy relaxes to a lower stationary level, as confirmed by continuous wavelet analysis. These microscopic changes carry macroscopic weight. Ignition-scale capsules now compress matter to regimes where the electron de Broglie wavelength rivals the Debye length, making classical kinetic descriptions insufficient. By extending KEEN physics into this quantum domain, our results offer a potential diagnostic of non-equilibrium electron dynamics for next-generation inertial-confinement designs and high-energy-density platforms, indicating that predictive fusion modeling may benefit from the integration of kinetic fidelity with quantum effects.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2025

Improved laser-plasma accelerator stability via high-bandwidth longitudinal focal position stabilization of a 100 TW-class laser system

Laser-plasma accelerators (LPAs) offer an attractive alternative to conventional accelerators for the development of compact electron sources and next-generation light sources. Due to orders-of-magnitude larger accelerating gradients, LPAs enable the acceleration of high-brightness electron beams to ultrarelativistic energies in millimeter- to centimeter-scale distances. However, LPA stability is limited by shot-to-shot fluctuations of the driving laser system. Specifically, fluctuations in the final-focus longitudinal position result in correlated instability in LPA electron beam qualities, including total beam charge, average beam energy, and energy spread. We demonstrate active stabilization of the longitudinal focal position for a 100 TW-class laser system. This repetition-rate scalable stabilization system leverages noninvasive wave front monitoring of a copropagating, unamplified kHz pulse train to guide corrective adjustments to the focal position of a 1 Hz amplified drive laser via an upstream telescope on millisecond timescales. In this demonstration, the approach limits standard deviation fluctuations of the amplified drive beam’s longitudinal focal position to ±0.22⁢ mm (representing at least a 53% reduction), achieved with a correction bandwidth that reaches the Nyquist frequency limit. Consequently, we observe marked improvements in both long-term and shot-to-shot LPA stability in terms of charge and spectrum.

Beam control↗
DOE OSTI2026

Solar Heat for Industrial Processes: Integration with Chemical Reactors

The integration of solar thermal systems with chemical reactors has been proposed as part of a larger effort to develop and deploy solar heat for industrial processes (SHIP) technologies. A strong motivation for SHIP processes and technologies is the potential for high thermal efficiency coupled with low-cost thermal energy storage (TES) which can enable commercial deployment of such systems. While there are different ways to categorize SHIP technologies, one important such distinction is between directly irradiated systems and indirect off-sun process driven by a SHIP system. While directly irradiated systems can provide high thermal efficiencies and high fluxes, they usually require complex engineering solutions due to the need for redesigning the established processes and unit operations. In most cases, it is also more challenging to couple such a process to a TES system, losing some of the benefits of SHIP. On the other hand, using a SHIP system to drive an industrial process off-sun can allow better integration with existing process chains, easier TES capabilities, and potential for more applications fitting a specific SHIP technology. However, the integration of SHIP systems with the industrial processes is not fully explored in detail, especially in the case of high-temperature processes such as reforming, cracking, cement manufacturing, and iron/steelmaking. Many of these systems require heating fluxes of >50 kW/m^2, supplied via combustion of hydrocarbons in a fire box and benefitting from radiative heat transfer between the flue gases and the reaction zones. As such, using SHIP systems for such processes is more complex than providing the same thermal input in the form of a heat transfer medium (HTM) entering the reactor, kiln, or furnace. Moreover, in case convective heat transfer using SHIP is envisioned, for example using supercritical CO2 as the HTM from a particle receiver, the thermal integration might be more challenging than initially envisioned: lower heat transfer coefficients and limited approach temperature might require large flow rates, causing a mismatch between the process thermal requirements and the thermal capacity of the SHIP system. In addition, even if the heat exchange between SHIP and reactor is effective, there is still a cold leg HTM at the reaction temperature or slightly below it. Chemical plants usually include a set of heat exchangers, heat recovery steam generators, and even power generation units - in a tightly integrated design - to recover the flue gases which are eventually vented. With SHIP systems mostly operating on a closed HTM loop, bottoming the cold leg is crucial. In this talk, we will present different modeling results for a variety of syngas production reactions, using catalytic and chemical looping processes, and discuss some of the challenges and design considerations for off-sun chemical reactors using SHIP systems.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2021

Strategy for distributed controller defence: Leveraging controller roles and control support groups to maintain or regain control in cyber-adversarial power systems

Distributed controllers play a prominent role in electric power grid operation. The coordinated failure or malfunction of these controllers is a serious threat, where the resulting mechanisms and consequences are not yet well-known and planned against. If certain controllers are maliciously compromised by an adversary, they can be manipulated to drive the system to an unsafe state. The authors present a strategy for distributed controller defence (SDCD) for improved grid tolerance under conditions of distributed controller compromise. The work of the authors’ first formalises the roles that distributed controllers play and their control support groups using controllability analysis techniques. With these formally defined roles and groups, the authors then present defence strategies for maintaining or regaining system control during such an attack. A general control response framework is presented here for the compromise or failure of distributed controllers using the remaining, operational set. The SDCD approach is successfully demonstrated with a 7-bus system and the IEEE 118-bus system for single and coordinated distributed controller compromise; the results indicate that SDCD is able to significantly reduce system stress and mitigate compromise consequences.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2023

Bandwidth Control and Symmetry Breaking in a Mott‐Hubbard Correlated Metal

Abstract In Mott materials strong electron correlation yields a spectrum of complex electronic structures. Recent synthesis advancements open realistic opportunities for harnessing Mott physics to design transformative devices. However, a major bottleneck in realizing such devices remains the lack of control over the electron correlation strength. This stems from the complexity of the electronic structure, which often veils the basic mechanisms underlying the correlation strength. This study presents control of the correlation strength by tuning the degree of orbital overlap using picometer‐scale lattice engineering. This study illustrates how bandwidth control and concurrent symmetry breaking can govern the electronic structure of a correlated SrVO 3 model system. This study shows how tensile and compressive biaxial strain oppositely affect the SrVO 3 in‐plane and out‐of‐plane orbital occupancy, resulting in the partial alleviation of the orbital degeneracy. The spectral weight redistribution under strain is derived and explained, which illustrates how high tensile strain drives the system toward a Mott insulating state. Implementation of such concepts can push correlated electron phenomena closer toward new solid‐state devices and circuits. These findings therefore pave the way for understanding and controlling electron correlation in a broad range of functional materials, driving this powerful resource for novel electronics closer toward practical realization.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2024

Tutorial - Electric Motor and Integrated Traction Drive Thermal Management

The share of vehicles with fully electric propulsion systems is constantly increasing, and so is their traction drive power. The continuous push to increase power of electric vehicle (EV) traction drives necessitates their efficient cooling to prevent damage to temperature sensitive components of the drive system and achieving higher power outputs in a smaller footprint. With increasing power and power density of electric traction drives, their thermal management is becoming increasingly challenging. This tutorial will provide an overview of thermal management approaches for electric motors and power electronics in EV applications. It will review examples of current industry solutions for power-dense electric motor cooling, power electronics (inverter) cooling, their integration concepts and thermal management system solutions. We'll look at the advantages and challenges of power electronics integration into a single traction drive unit and respective thermal management system concepts. We'll talk about barriers to implementation of a unified thermal management system. The tutorial will also review key aspects of thermal management system design: modeling and simulation using FEA and CFD tools, experimental characterization, and general workflow for thermal management system evaluation.

ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS,DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSI↗