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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 1,801 records · Page 100
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2014

Increasing the upper-limit intensity and temperature range for thermal self-focusing of a laser beam by using plasma density ramp-up

This work is devoted to improving relativistic and ponderomotive thermal self-focusing of the intense laser beam in an underdense plasma. It is shown that the ponderomotive nonlinearity induces a saturation mechanism for thermal self-focusing. Therefore, in addition to the well-known lower-limit critical intensity, there is an upper-limit intensity for thermal self-focusing above which the laser beam starts to experience ponderomotive defocusing. It is indicated that the upper-limit intensity value is dependent on plasma and laser parameters such as the plasma electron temperature, plasma density, and laser spot size. Furthermore, the effect of the upward plasma density ramp profile on the thermal self-focusing is studied. Results show that by using the plasma density ramp-up, the upper-limit intensity increases and the self-focusing temperature range expands.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2014

Experimental evidence of the increased transport due to the wall bounded magnetic drift in low temperature plasma

This paper presents experimental results on plasma transport across the magnetic field (B) in magnetized low-temperature plasma sources. Due to the presence of chamber walls, this transport can be complex even in a non-turbulent regime. In particular, in configurations without cylindrical symmetry, the magnetic drifts tend to be bounded by the chamber walls, thereby inducing plasma asymmetry and reducing magnetic confinement. In this work, we measure electron and ion current densities at metal chamber walls bounding a rectangular magnetic filter and demonstrate that these current densities are asymmetrically nonuniform. We also provide an experimental confirmation of model predictions of increased cross-field electron transport in such filter configuration, scaling as 1/B rather than the classical 1/B{sup 2} scaling.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2014

Evaluation of two-stage system for neutron measurement aiming at increase in count rate at Japan Atomic Energy Agency-Fusion Neutronics Source

In order to increase the count rate capability of a neutron detection system as a whole, we propose a multi-stage neutron detection system. Experiments to test the effectiveness of this concept were carried out on Fusion Neutronics Source. Comparing four configurations of alignment, it was found that the influence of an anterior stage on a posterior stage was negligible for the pulse height distribution. The two-stage system using 25 mm thickness scintillator was about 1.65 times the count rate capability of a single detector system for d-D neutrons and was about 1.8 times the count rate capability for d-T neutrons. The results suggested that the concept of a multi-stage detection system will work in practice.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2014

Note: Increasing dynamic range of digital-to-analog converter using a superconducting quantum interference device

Responses of a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) are periodically dependent on magnetic flux coupling to its superconducting ring and the period is a flux quantum (Φ{sub o} = h/2e, where h and e, respectively, express Planck's constant and elementary charge). Using this periodicity, we had proposed a digital to analog converter using a SQUID (SQUID DAC) of first generation with linear current output, interval of which corresponded to Φ{sub o}. Modification for increasing dynamic range by interpolating within each interval is reported. Linearity of the interpolation was also based on the quantum periodicity. A SQUID DAC with dynamic range of about 1.4 × 10{sup 7} was created as a demonstration.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2014

Increased magnetocrystalline anisotropy in epitaxial Fe-Co-C thin films with spontaneous strain

Rare earth free alloys are in focus of permanent magnet research since the accessibility of the elements needed for nowadays conventional magnets is limited. Tetragonally strained iron-cobalt (Fe-Co) has attracted large interest as promising candidate due to theoretical calculations. In experiments, however, the applied strain quickly relaxes with increasing film thickness and hampers stabilization of a strong magnetocrystalline anisotropy. In our study, we show that already 2 at. % of carbon substantially reduces the lattice relaxation leading to the formation of a spontaneously strained phase with 3% tetragonal distortion. In these strained (Fe{sub 0.4}Co{sub 0.6}){sub 0.98}C{sub 0.02} films, a magnetocrystalline anisotropy above 0.4 MJ/m{sup 3} is observed while the large polarization of 2.1 T is maintained. Compared to binary Fe-Co, this is a remarkable improvement of the intrinsic magnetic properties. In this paper, we relate our experimental work to theoretical studies of strained Fe-Co-C and find a very good agreement.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2014

Experimental and numerical study of gas dynamic window for electron beam transport into the space with increased pressure

The paper is devoted to experimental and numerical study of the gas jet technical device for obtaining axisymmetric flow with low pressure in its near axis region. The studied geometry of the device is typical of that used in the plasma generator consisting of an electron gun with a hollow (plasma) cathode and a double supersonic ring nozzle. The geometry of the nozzles as well as the relation between the gas flow rates through the nozzles providing the electron beam extraction into the region with increased pressure are tested both experimentally and numerically. The maximum external pressure of about 0.25 bar that does not disturb the electron beam is achieved.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2015

Increasing the sampling efficiency of protein conformational transition using velocity-scaling optimized hybrid explicit/implicit solvent REMD simulation

The application of temperature replica exchange molecular dynamics (REMD) simulation on protein motion is limited by its huge requirement of computational resource, particularly when explicit solvent model is implemented. In the previous study, we developed a velocity-scaling optimized hybrid explicit/implicit solvent REMD method with the hope to reduce the temperature (replica) number on the premise of maintaining high sampling efficiency. In this study, we utilized this method to characterize and energetically identify the conformational transition pathway of a protein model, the N-terminal domain of calmodulin. In comparison to the standard explicit solvent REMD simulation, the hybrid REMD is much less computationally expensive but, meanwhile, gives accurate evaluation of the structural and thermodynamic properties of the conformational transition which are in well agreement with the standard REMD simulation. Therefore, the hybrid REMD could highly increase the computational efficiency and thus expand the application of REMD simulation to larger-size protein systems.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2015

Density-functional errors in ionization potential with increasing system size

This work investigates the effects of molecular size on the accuracy of density-functional ionization potentials for a set of 28 hydrocarbons, including series of alkanes, alkenes, and oligoacenes. As the system size increases, delocalization error introduces a systematic underestimation of the ionization potential, which is rationalized by considering the fractional-charge behavior of the electronic energies. The computation of the ionization potential with many density-functional approximations is not size-extensive due to excessive delocalization of the incipient positive charge. While inclusion of exact exchange reduces the observed errors, system-specific tuning of long-range corrected functionals does not generally improve accuracy. These results emphasize that good performance of a functional for small molecules is not necessarily transferable to larger systems.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2015

Quasi-analytical synthesis of continuous phase correcting structures to increase the directivity of circularly polarized Fabry-Perot resonator antennas

This paper presents a quasi-analytical technique to design a continuous, all-dielectric phase correcting structures (PCSs) for circularly polarized Fabry-Perot resonator antennas (FPRAs). The PCS has been realized by varying the thickness of a rotationally symmetric dielectric block placed above the antenna. A global analytical expression is derived for the PCS thickness profile, which is required to achieve nearly uniform phase distribution at the output of the PCS, despite the non-uniform phase distribution at its input. An alternative piecewise technique based on spline interpolation is also explored to design a PCS. It is shown from both far- and near-field results that a PCS tremendously improves the radiation performance of the FPRA. These improvements include an increase in peak directivity from 22 to 120 (from 13.4 dBic to 20.8 dBic) and a decrease of 3 dB beamwidth from 41.5° to 15°. The phase-corrected antenna also has a good directivity bandwidth of 1.3 GHz, which is 11% of the center frequency.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2015

Reference interaction site model and optimized perturbation theories of colloidal dumbbells with increasing anisotropy

We investigate thermodynamic properties of anisotropic colloidal dumbbells in the frameworks provided by the Reference Interaction Site Model (RISM) theory and an Optimized Perturbation Theory (OPT), this latter based on a fourth-order high-temperature perturbative expansion of the free energy, recently generalized to molecular fluids. Our model is constituted by two identical tangent hard spheres surrounded by square-well attractions with same widths and progressively different depths. Gas-liquid coexistence curves are obtained by predicting pressures, free energies, and chemical potentials. In comparison with previous simulation results, RISM and OPT agree in reproducing the progressive reduction of the gas-liquid phase separation as the anisotropy of the interaction potential becomes more pronounced; in particular, the RISM theory provides reasonable predictions for all coexistence curves, bar the strong anisotropy regime, whereas OPT performs generally less well. Both theories predict a linear dependence of the critical temperature on the interaction strength, reproducing in this way the mean-field behavior observed in simulations; the critical density—that drastically drops as the anisotropy increases—turns to be less accurate. Our results appear as a robust benchmark for further theoretical studies, in support to the simulation approach, of self-assembly in model colloidal systems.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2015

Evolution of grain boundary conduction with increasing temperature in pure and Ti doped Co ferrite materials

We report on the structural, temperature, and frequency dependent impedance studies of Ti doped cobalt ferrite material (CoFe{sub 1.95}Ti{sub 0.05}O{sub 4}) in comparison with the pure CoFe{sub 2}O{sub 4}. XRD and Raman spectroscopy studies confirm the inverse spinel crystallization of the materials with space group of Fd-3 m. Scanning electron microscope images shows the microcrystalline nature of the particles. Homogeneity, stoichiometry, and ionic states of the ions in the composition were confirmed by energy dispersive X-ray analysis and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic studies. Temperature and frequency dependent real (Z′) and imaginary (Z″) part of the impedance shows the existence of relaxation processes and their distribution in CoFe{sub 2}O{sub 4} and CoFe{sub 1.95}Ti{sub 0.05}O{sub 4} materials. Complex impedance spectroscopy studies at low temperatures shows that the conductivity in these materials is predominantly due to the intrinsic bulk grains. With increasing the temperature, evolution of grain boundary conduction is clearly seen through the appearance of a second semi-circle in the complex impedance plots. Room temperature total dc conductivity of both CoFe{sub 2}O{sub 4} and CoFe{sub 1.95}Ti{sub 0.05}O{sub 4} materials is found to be 5.78 × 10{sup −8} and 1.61 × 10{sup −7} S/cm, respectively. Temperature variation of dc electrical conductivity follows the Arrhenius relationship and the activation energies for CoFe{sub 2}O{sub 4} corresponding to grain (0.55 eV for CoFe{sub 2}O{sub 4}), grain boundary (0.52 eV), and total conduction (0.54 eV) are discussed. Observation of well distinguishable grain and grain boundary conductions and the low conductivity values in CoFe{sub 2}O{sub 4} and CoFe{sub 1.95}Ti{sub 0.05}O{sub 4} materials indicates that these materials are promising candidates for the high frequency applications.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2015

Increasing photon absorption and stability of PbS quantum dot solar cells using a ZnO interlayer

We compared PbS quantum dot (QD) solar cells with different cathode interlayer materials, namely, LiF and ZnO nanoparticles, using the same device structure. Solar cells fabricated with the ZnO interlayer gave a power conversion efficiency of 4.8%, which is higher (above the experimental variation) than the 4.1% efficiency obtained with a LiF interlayer. We found that the ZnO interlayer alters the spatial distribution of the optical field, leading to an increase in external quantum efficiency in the visible range. Furthermore, devices with ZnO as interlayer showed more stable performance than the ones using LiF, with practically no power conversion efficiency degradation after 1 month inside a N{sub 2} glovebox.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2015

Increased magnetic damping of a single domain wall and adjacent magnetic domains detected by spin torque diode in a nanostripe

Spin torque resonance has been used to simultaneously probe the dynamics of a magnetic domain wall and of magnetic domains in a nanostripe magnetic tunnel junction. Due to the large associated resistance variations, we are able to analyze quantitatively the resonant properties of these single nanoscale magnetic objects. In particular, we find that the magnetic damping of both the domains and the domain wall is doubled compared to the damping value of the host magnetic layer. We estimate the contributions to the damping arising from the dipolar couplings between the different layers in the junction and from the intralayer spin pumping effect, and find that they cannot explain the large damping enhancement that we observe. We conclude that the measured increased damping is intrinsic to large amplitudes excitations of spatially localized modes or solitons such as vibrating or propagating domain walls.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2017

Increased luminescence and improved decay kinetics in lithium and cerium co-doped yttrium aluminum garnet scintillators grown by the Czochralski method

In this study, four yttrium aluminum garnet single crystals co-doped with cerium and lithium were produced by the Czochralski method and the scintillation and defect properties were investigated. Our results demonstrated an increase in luminescence with Li co-doping as well as elimination of longer decay times. Surprisingly, although Li is monovalent, no oxidation of cerium from Ce 3+ to Ce 4+ was found as would be expected to maintain charge neutrality. Additionally, thermoluminescence results indicated a reduction in the trapping of charge carriers by shallow and deep traps, and room temperature photoluminescence measurements showed an improvement in the Ce 3+ 5d to 4f transition efficiency.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2017

Enhanced toroidal flow stabilization of edge localized modes with increased plasma density

Toroidal flow alone is generally thought to have an important influence on tokamak edge pedestal stability, even though theoretical analysis often predicts merely a weak stabilizing effect of toroidal flow on the edge localized modes (ELMs) in experimental parameter regimes. For the first time, we find from two-fluid MHD calculations that such a stabilization, however, can be significantly enhanced by increasing the edge plasma density. Our finding resolves a long-standing mystery whether or how toroidal rotation can indeed have an effective influence on ELMs, and explains why the ELM mitigation and suppression by toroidal rotation are more favorably achieved in higher collisionality regime in recent experiments. Furthermore, the finding suggests a new control scheme on modulating toroidal flow stabilization of ELMs with plasma density, along with a new additional constraint on the optimal level of plasma density for the desired edge plasma conditions

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2017

Increasing the thermoelectric power factor of Ge 17 Sb 2 Te 20 by adjusting the Ge/Sb ratio

Here, we have investigated the thermoelectric properties of Ge 17 Sb 2 Te 20 . This compound is a known phase change material with electronic properties that depend strongly on temperature. The thermoelectric properties of this compound can be tuned by altering the stoichiometry of Ge and Sb without the use of additional foreign elements during synthesis. This tuning results in a 26% increase in the thermoelectric power factor at 723 K. Based on a single parabolic band model we show that the pristine material is optimally doped, and thus, a reduction in the lattice thermal conductivity of pure Ge 17 Sb 2 Te 20 should result in an enhanced thermoelectric figure of merit.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2017

Giant increase in cross-magnetic-field transport rate as an electron-positron plasma cools

An electron-positron plasma in thermal equilibrium within a uniform magnetic field is studied here using a classical trajectory Monte Carlo simulation. The cross-magnetic-field single-particle diffusion coefficient is evaluated as a function of the magnetic field strength and plasma temperature. The transport rate is found to increase by many orders of magnitude as the plasma temperature is lowered, for a magnetic field strength of 1 T. The sharp dependence on temperature is due to electrons and positrons becoming temporarily correlated and drifting across the magnetic field before dissociating.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2018

Increased interference fringe visibility from the post-fabrication heat treatment of a perfect crystal silicon neutron interferometer

We find that annealing a previously chemically etched interferometer at 800 °C dramatically increased the interference fringe visibility from 23% to 90%. The Bragg plane misalignments were also measured before and after annealing using neutron rocking curves, showing that Bragg plane alignment was improved across the interferometer after annealing. Furthermore, this suggests that current interferometers with low fringe visibility may be salvageable and that annealing may become an important step in the fabrication process of future neutron interferometers, leading to less need for chemical etching and larger more exotic neutron interferometers.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

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