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At least 199 records · Page 11
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2021

Uplift and Seismicity Driven by Magmatic Inflation at Sierra Negra Volcano, Galápagos Islands

Abstract Although episodes of surface uplift and elevated seismicity precede many volcanic eruptions, their temporal evolution is often complex, and apparently in contradiction to simple trends predicted by mechanical deformation models. Here, we use continuous global positioning system and seismic data recorded at Sierra Negra volcano, Galápagos Islands, to show how the edifice responded to stress changes driven by magma accumulation in a shallow sill. The rate of uplift varied during the 13 years and 6.5 m of inflation before the 2018 eruption. The number of earthquakes per unit of uplift increased exponentially with total uplift as the differential stress increased. Accordingly, the temporal seismicity rate varied in time as a function of both the total uplift and the uplift rate. The Gutenberg‐Richter b ‐value decreased as a function of total uplift. In the final six months before the eruption, a sequence of large ( M > 4) earthquakes regulated the state of stress on the fault, each being followed by 2–3 days of postseismic quiescence, and retarding the increase in seismicity rate. These earthquakes did not affect the overall uplift rate. Subsidence of 8.5 m accompanied the 2‐month eruption. On resumption of uplift, the number of earthquakes per unit of uplift was very low, and the b ‐value high, reflecting the relaxed stress state of the fault system. These observations show that crustal deformation becomes increasingly brittle at higher stress states, and supports theoretical models based on elastic‐brittle mechanics. They suggest that joint interpretation of deformation and seismicity is key for forecasting future eruptions in similar volcanic settings.

Bell, Andrew Forbes↗
DOE OSTI2023

Thixotropy, antithixotropy, and viscoelasticity in hysteresis

Thixotropy, antithixotropy, and viscoelasticity are three types of time-dependent dynamics that involve fundamentally different underlying physical processes. Here, we show that the three dynamics exhibit different signatures in hysteresis by examining the fingerprints of the simplest thixotropic kinetic model, a new antithixotropic model that we introduce here, and the Giesekus model. We start by showing that a consistent protocol to generate hysteresis loops is a discrete shear-rate controlled ramp that begins and ends at high shear rates, rather than at low shear rates. Using this protocol, we identify two distinguishing features in the resulting stress versus shear rate loops. The first is the direction of the hysteresis loops: clockwise for thixotropy, but counterclockwise for viscoelasticity and antithixotropy. A second feature is achieved at high ramping rates where all responses lose hysteresis: the viscoelastic response shows a stress plateau at low shear rates due to lack of stress relaxation, whereas the thixotropic and antithixotropic responses are purely viscous with minimal shear thinning or thickening. We establish further evidence for these signatures by experimentally measuring the hysteresis of Laponite suspensions, carbon black suspensions, and poly(ethylene oxide) solutions, each representing a historically accepted example of each class of material behavior. The signatures measured in experiments are consistent with those predicted by the three models. This study reveals different fingerprints in hysteresis loops associated with thixotropy, antithixotropy, and viscoelasticity, which may be helpful in distinguishing the three time-dependent responses.

Mechanics↗
NASA NTRS1979

Comptonization of X-rays by low-temperature electrons

A method is described for calculating the spectrum that results from the Compton scattering of a monochromatic source of X-rays by low-temperature electrons, both for initial-value relaxation problems and for steady-state spatial diffusion problems. The method gives an exact solution of the inital-value problem for evolution of the spectrum in an infinite homogeneous medium if Klein-Nishina corrections to the Thomson cross section are neglected. This, together with approximate solutions for problems in which Klein-Nishina corrections are significant and/or spatial diffusion occurs, shows spectral structure near the original photon wavelength that may be used to infer physical conditions in cosmic X-ray sources. Explicit results, shown for examples of time relaxation in an infinite medium and spatial diffusion through a uniform sphere, are compared with results obtained by Monte Carlo calculations and by solving the appropriate Fokker-Planck equation.

Illarionov, A.↗
NASA NTRS1990

MBE growth technology for high quality strained III-V layers

The III-V films are grown on large automatically perfect terraces of III-V substrates which have a different lattice constant, with temperature and Group III and V arrival rates chosen to give a Group III element stable surface. The growth is pulsed to inhibit Group III metal accumulation of low temperature, and to permit the film to relax to equilibrium. The method of the invention: (1) minimizes starting step density on sample surface; (2) deposits InAs and GaAs using an interrupted growth mode (0.25 to 2 monolayers at a time); (3) maintains the instantaneous surface stoichiometry during growth (As-stable for GaAs, In-stable for InAs); and (4) uses time-resolved RHEED to achieve aspects (1) through (3).

Grunthaner, Frank J.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Coherent pulses in the diffusive transport of charged particles`

We present exact solutions to the diffusive transport of charged particles following impulsive injection for a simple model of scattering. A modified, two-parameter relaxation-time model is considered that simulates the low rate of scattering through perpendicular pitch-angle. Scattering is taken to be isotropic within each of the foward- and backward-pointing hemispheres, respectively, but, at the same time, a reduced rate of sccattering is assumed from one hemisphere to the other one. By applying a technique of Fourier- and Laplace-transform, the inverse transformation can be performed and exact solutions can be reached. By contrast with the first, and so far only exact solutions of Federov and Shakov, this wider class of solutions gives rise to coherent pulses to appear. The present work addresses omnidirectional densities for isotropic injection from an instantaneous and localized source. The dispersion relations are briefly discussed. We find, for this particular model, two diffusive models to exist up to a certain limiting wavenumber. The corresponding eigenvalues are real at the lowest wavenumbers. Complex eigenvalues, which are responsible for coherent pulses, appear at higher wavenumbers.

Kota, J.↗
NASA NTRS1992

MBE growth technology for high quality strained III-V layers

III-V films are grown on large automatically perfect terraces of III-V substrates which have a different lattice constant, with temperature and Group II and V arrival rates chosen to give a Group III element stable surface. The growth is pulsed to inhibit Group III metal accumulation to low temperature, and to permit the film to relax to equilibrium. The method of the invention 1) minimizes starting step density on sample surface; 2) deposits InAs and GaAs using an interrupted growth mode (0.25 to 2 mono-layers at a time); 3) maintains the instantaneous surface stoichiometry during growth (As-stable for GaAs, In-stable for InAs); and 4) uses time-resolved RHEED to achieve aspects (1)-14 (3).

Grunthaner, Frank J.↗
NASA NTRS2010

Reducing Field Distortion in Magnetic Resonance Imaging

A concept for a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system that would utilize a relatively weak magnetic field provides for several design features that differ significantly from the corresponding features of conventional MRI systems. Notable among these features are a magnetic-field configuration that reduces (relative to the conventional configuration) distortion and blurring of the image, the use of a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer as the detector, and an imaging procedure suited for the unconventional field configuration and sensor. In a typical application of MRI, a radio-frequency pulse is used to excite precession of the magnetic moments of protons in an applied magnetic field, and the decaying precession is detected for a short time following the pulse. The precession occurs at a resonance frequency proportional to the strengths of the magnetic field and the proton magnetic moment. The magnetic field is configured to vary with position in a known way; hence, by virtue of the aforesaid proportionality, the resonance frequency varies with position in a known way. In other words, position is encoded as resonance frequency. MRI using magnetic fields weaker than those of conventional MRI offers several advantages, including cheaper and smaller equipment, greater compatibility with metallic objects, and higher image quality because of low susceptibility distortion and enhanced spin-lattice-relaxation- time contrast. SQUID MRI is being developed into a practical MRI method for applied magnetic flux densities of the order of only 100 T

Eom, Byeong Ho↗
NASA NTRS2011

Flow Simulation of Supersonic Inlet with Bypass Annular Duct

A relaxed isentropic compression supersonic inlet is a new concept that produces smaller cowl drag than a conventional inlet, but incurs lower total pressure recovery and increased flow distortion in the (radially) outer flowpath. A supersonic inlet comprising a bypass annulus to the relaxed isentropic compression inlet dumps out airflow of low quality through the bypass duct. A reliable computational fluid dynamics solution can provide considerable useful information to ascertain quantitatively relative merits of the concept, and further provide a basis for optimizing the design. For a fast and reliable performance evaluation of the inlet performance, an equivalent axisymmetric model whose area changes accounts for geometric and physical (blockage) effects resulting from the original complex three-dimensional configuration is proposed. In addition, full three-dimensional calculations are conducted for studying flow phenomena and verifying the validity of the equivalent model. The inlet-engine coupling is carried out by embedding numerical propulsion system simulation engine data into the flow solver for interactive boundary conditions at the engine fan face and exhaust plane. It was found that the blockage resulting from complex three-dimensional geometries in the bypass duct causes significant degradation of inlet performance by pushing the terminal normal shock upstream.

Kim, HyoungJin↗
NASA NTRS2012

Dwell Notch Low Cycle Fatigue Behavior of a Powder Metallurgy Nickel Disk Alloy

A study was conducted to determine the processes which govern dwell notch low cycle fatigue (NLCF) behavior of a powder metallurgy (P/M) ME3 disk superalloy. The emphasis was placed on the environmentally driven mechanisms which may embrittle the highly stressed notch surface regions and reduce NLCF life. In conjunction with the environmentally driven notch surface degradation processes, the visco-plastic driven mechanisms which can significantly change the notch root stresses were also considered. Dwell notch low cycle fatigue testing was performed in air and vacuum on a ME3 P/M disk alloy specimens heat treated using either a fast or a slow cooling rate from the solutioning treatment. It was shown that dwells at the minimum stress typically produced a greater life debit than the dwells applied at the maximum stress, especially for the slow cooled heat treatment. Two different environmentally driven failure mechanisms were identified as the root cause of early crack initiation in the min dwell tests. Both of these failure mechanisms produced mostly a transgranular crack initiation failure mode and yet still resulted in low NLCF fatigue lives. The lack of stress relaxation during the min dwell tests produced higher notch root stresses which caused early crack initiation and premature failure when combined with the environmentally driven surface degradation mechanisms. The importance of environmental degradation mechanisms was further highlighted by vacuum dwell NLCF tests which resulted in considerably longer NLCF lives, especially for the min dwell tests.

Telesman, J.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Energy-relaxation pathways in finite-sized artificial square-ice structures

The energy-relaxation pathway in artificial spin ice structures refers to the series of individual moment reorientations the system undergoes as it relaxes from an initial state to a final low-energy state. The probability of the artificial spin ice structure reaching a ground state depends on the energy of the intermediate states as approximated by an Arrhenius-type relation. In this work, we report that by modifying the geometry of artificial square-ice structures, we can influence the probability of observing the ground state in different configurations. Furthermore, our findings are supported by dipolar energy calculations for various energy-relaxation pathways and the corresponding experimental data obtained by magnetic force microscopy.

Analog computation↗
NASA NTRS1993

Raman scattering measurements of vibrational and rotational distributions in expanding nitrogen

Vibrational and rotational population distributions in expanding nitrogen in the supersonic nozzle of a reflected shock tunnel were investigated using spontaneous Raman scattering spectroscopy. The experimental data are compared with two multitemperature nonequilibrium calculations, one based on the Landau-Teller model for vibrational relaxation, the other on the solution of the vibrational master equations. Good agreement was found between both the Landau-Teller and the master equation solutions for the vibrational energy mode, but the experimentally inferred rotational temperatures were found to be systematically low, due to collisional narrowing. The dramatic increase in vibrational relaxation rates for a cooling flowfield reported in most previous studies was not reproduced by the present experiments.

Gillespie, Walter D.↗
NASA NTRS1990

Balancing low cost with reliable operation in the rotordynamic design of the ALS Liquid Hydrogen Fuel Turbopump

The Air Force/NASA Advanced Launch System (ALS) Liquid Hydrogen Fuel Turbopump (FTP) has primary design goals of low cost and high reliability, with performance and weight having less importance. This approach is atypical compared with other rocket engine turbopump design efforts, such as on the Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME), which emphasized high performance and low weight. Similar to the SSME turbopumps, the ALS FTP operates supercritically, which implies that stability and bearing loads strongly influence the design. In addition, the use of low cost/high reliability features in the ALS FTP such as hydrostatic bearings, relaxed seal clearances, and unshrouded turbine blades also have a negative influence on rotordynamics. This paper discusses the analysis conducted to achieve a balance between low cost and acceptable rotordynamic behavior, to ensure that the ALS FTP will operate reliably without subsynchronous instabilities or excessive bearing loads.

Greenhill, L. M.↗
DOE OSTI2021

Potential Dependent Mn Oxidation and Its Role in Passivation of Ni 38 Fe 20 Cr 22 Mn 10 Co 10 Multi-Principal Element Alloy Using Multi-Element Resolved Atomic Emission Spectroelectrochemistry

The identity of passivating oxides on multi-principal element alloys is of great interest as their optimization offers the potential for exceptional corrosion resistance in aqueous solutions over a broad range of potential and pH. This study focuses on a non-equiatomic Ni 38 Fe 20 Cr 22 Mn 10 Co 10 solid solution alloy and tracks the fate of each alloying element during linear sweep voltammetry, low and intermediate potential holds in the passive potential domain as well as during open circuit relaxation after anodic polarization in slightly acidified Cl − solution. Ni dissolves at all potentials investigated in this work, Fe and Co are incorporated into oxides or hydroxides in low concentrations whilst Cr and Mn are enriched at passive potentials. At low passivating potentials, Mn(II) dissolves and is incorporated in minor amounts in oxides containing large concentrations of Cr(III). Considerable enrichment in Mn(II)-species occurs relative to Cr(III) in the oxide at 0.1 V vs SCE. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy suggests the presence of layered oxides with marginal passivation at high Mn(II) levels. The formation of these oxides depends on a combination of thermodynamic and kinetic factors as well as the sequence of passivation.

Han, Junsoo (ORCID:0000000192952954)↗
DOE OSTI2020

Dielectric relaxation of neodymium chloride in water and in methanol

In this work, an open-ended coaxial probe was used to study the dielectric relaxation of neodymium chloride (NdCl 3 ) in water and in methanol at room temperature over the frequency range 0.2–40.0 GHz. An equivalent circuit model based on the antenna model was used to obtain the dielectric spectra with the effective removal of spurious effects. This extends the use of the open-ended coaxial probe technique for highly conductive substances. The structural and thermodynamic parameters obtained from the dielectric spectra of aqueous NdCl 3 solutions suggest that solvent-separated ion pairs and solvent-shared ion pairs dominate the low-frequency behavior at low concentrations. In methanol, solvent-shared ion pair relaxation modes were detected. No contact pair relaxation was observed in either solvent. Under all conditions, Nd 3+ was strongly solvated, as reflected by its high effective hydration number. The estimated association constant of NdCl 3 in water at infinite dilution was within the literature values and was lower than that observed in methanol.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2025

Control of Energy Transport and Transduction in Photosynthetic Down-Conversion (Final Technical Report)

The research conducted under this contract focused on three areas related to control of energy transport and transduction in natural and synthetic light harvesting systems: (1) experimental and theoretical studies exploring the use of ultrafast laser pulse shaping to manipulate the initially excited states of multi-chromophore biological light harvesting networks and influence the early time energy transfer and electronic and vibrational relaxation pathways, (2) fundamental theoretical developments aimed at computing and analyzing the dynamics of excitations of complex heterogeneous environments and nano structures, and (3) joint experimental and theoretical design studies of artificial light harvesting materials exploring the influence of incorporating different types of organic layers in low dimensional lead halide perovskite materials on their hot carrier relaxation dynamics, and theoretical studies of the design of nano structured light harvesting antenna systems. These research projects supported the training of three theoretical and computational graduate students, one experimental graduate student, and one experimental post-doctoral researcher. The research has been published in seven peer reviewed papers and presented at several international meetings and workshops.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2023

Low- and high-temperature heat capacity of metallic technetium

The heat capacity of technetium metal has been measured from 2.1 K to 293 K using relaxation calorimetry and the enthalpy increment up to 1700 K using drop calorimetry. The low-temperature calorimetry measurements revealed a superconducting transition temperature of T C = (7.76 ± 0.08) K. The zero-degree Debye temperature(θ E ) and the electronic heat capacity coefficient ($γ_{e}$) of the normal state were derived as (307 ± 5) K and (4.22 ± 0.20) mJ·K –2 ·mol –1 , respectively. The standard entropy of the superconducting standard state was derived as $S^{°}_{m}$ (298.15) = (36.8 ± 1.3) J·K –1 ·mol –1 . The fitting of enthalpy-increment data together with high-temperature heat capacity data reported in literature yielded a heat capacity equation up to 1700 K.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1979

Collapse and relaxation of rotating stellar systems

The evolution of initially spherical, uniform-density, and uniform-velocity-dispersion stellar systems is investigated by means of a three-dimensional N-body computer model. Some 100,000 simulation stars are used to follow the collapse and relaxation of the system for various amounts of angular momentum in solid-body rotation. For initially low values of the angular momentum satisfying the Ostriker-Pebbles stability criterion the systems quickly relax to an axisymmetric shape and resemble elliptical galaxies in appearance. The maximum flattening for these systems is equivalent only to an E2 system. For larger values of the initial angular momentum bars develop, and the systems undergo a much more drastic evolution. The apparent rotational and random velocities of the barred systems are very sensitive to the viewing direction. An additional complication is the frequent misalignment of the apparent major axis with the direction that reflects the maximum rotation.

Hohl, F.↗
DOE OSTI2021

Valley relaxation of resident electrons and holes in a monolayer semiconductor: Dependence on carrier density and the role of substrate-induced disorder

Using time-resolved optical Kerr rotation, here we measure the low-temperature valley dynamics of resident electrons and holes in exfoliated WSe 2 monolayers as a systematic function of carrier density. In an effort to reconcile the many disparate timescales of carrier valley dynamics in monolayer semiconductors reported to date, we directly compare the doping-dependent valley relaxation in two electrostatically gated WSe 2 monolayers having different dielectric environments. In a fully encapsulated structure ( hBN / WSe 2 / hBN , where hBN is hexagonal boron nitride), valley relaxation is found to be monoexponential. The valley relaxation time τ v is quite long ( ~ 10 μ s ) at low carrier densities, but decreases rapidly to less than 100 ns at high electron or hole densities ≳ 2 × 10 12 cm – 2 . In contrast, in a partially encapsulated WSe 2 monolayer placed directly on silicon dioxide ( hBN / WSe 2 / SiO 2 ) , carrier valley relaxation is multiexponential at low carrier densities. The difference is attributed to environmental disorder from the SiO 2 substrate. Unexpectedly, very small out-of-plane magnetic fields can increase τ v , especially in the hBN / WSe 2 / SiO 2 structure, suggesting that localized states induced by disorder can play an important role in depolarizing spins and mediating the valley relaxation of resident carriers in monolayer transition-metal dichalcogenide semiconductors.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗