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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 199 records · Page 11
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Validation of Universal Cryogenic Flow Boiling Correlations in Thermal Desktop for Liquid Hydrogen

Developing accurate models of two-phase cryogenic flow will reduce risk and reduce margins for future NASA vehicles such as the Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (NTP) system. Currently there is a need for more accurate, direct cryogenic data-anchored models for various boiling and two-phase phenomena. The focus of the current work is on modeling steady state cryogenic flow boiling in the transfer line that connects a propellant storage tank to an engine or customer receiver tank. This paper presents Thermal Desktop model validation results against several historical liquid hydrogen (LH2) heated tube experiments that cover a wide range of inlet conditions, mass flux, and heat flux. New universal cryogenic flow boiling correlations were recently developed and anchored to the largest cryogenic flow boiling database assembled in the world to-date. The new universal correlations are patched together and implemented into Thermal Desktop to compare model performance against the built-in flow boiling correlations. Axial wall temperature predictions as a function of preponderant parameters like heat flux, mass flux, inlet pressure, inlet quality, tube diameter, etc. using the two sets of flow boiling correlations are compared against the experimental data. Overall, the Thermal Desktop model with the new universal cryogenic flow boiling correlations demonstrates an improvement in predictive performance over the Thermal Desktop model using built-in correlations for both wall temperature and location of critical heat flux compared to the data for LH2 flow boiling in heated tubes.

cryogenic propellant transfer↗
DOE OSTI2021

Geothermal Deep Direct-Use for Low-Carbon Heating: A Case Study at Cornell University

Cornell University is developing a geothermal deep direct-use system to provide reliable, low carbon, and cost-competitive heating for its main campus in Ithaca, New York. This geothermal system, also referred to as Earth Source Heat, would provide the majority of the campus heating load and represents a key pillar for the university to become carbon neutral by 2035. Over the last 10 years, numerous desktop, seismic, and geophysical studies have been undertaken at Cornell to characterize the local subsurface, predict long-term reservoir performance, design the integration into the existing district heating network, and estimate capital and levelized costs. Recently, the university received funding for drilling an observatory well to obtain in-situ subsurface data (e.g., reservoir temperatures, pressures, fluid chemistry, stress field), significantly lowering subsurface uncertainty and de-risking the project. Drilling of the test well is planned for fall 2021. This paper provides an overview and status of the project, including a summary of past studies and a description of the proposed well and planned testing activities.

Cornell University↗
DOE OSTI2025

Measurement of high-mass $t\bar{t}\ell ^{+}\ell ^{-}$ production and lepton flavour universality-inspired effective field theory interpretations at $\sqrt{s}=13$ $\text {T}\text {e}\hspace{-1.00006pt}\text {V}$ with the ATLAS detector

Measurements of $t\bar{t}\ell ^{+}\ell ^{-}$ production in the region of high dilepton invariant mass with effective field theory (EFT) interpretations are presented. They are performed using final states with three isolated leptons (electrons or muons) and are based on $\sqrt{s} = 13$ TeV proton–proton collision data with an integrated luminosity of $140\,\textrm{fb}^{-1}$, recorded from 2015 to 2018 with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. Measurements of the $t\bar{t}\ell ^{+}\ell ^{-}$ signal strength and cross-section upper-limits are performed inclusively in lepton flavour and separately for electrons and muons. The study also aims to probe anomalous four-fermion interactions including to test for possible lepton flavor universality violation. No significant deviations from the Standard Model predictions are observed and the measurements are interpreted through the EFT formalism to provide new constraints on the relevant operators.

Aad, G. [CNRS/IN2P3] (ORCID:0000000266654934)↗
DOE OSTI2025

Universal Effective Charges in the 𝑠⁢𝑑 and 𝑓⁡𝑝 Shells

The 247-keV state in 54 Sc, populated in the 𝛽 decay of 54 Ca, is reported here as a nanosecond isomer with a half-life of 26.0(22) ns. The state is interpreted as the 1 + member of the 𝜋⁢𝑓 7/2 ⊗ 𝜈⁢𝑓 5/2 spin-coupled multiplet, which decays to the 3 + ,𝜋⁢𝑓 7/2 ⊗ 𝜈⁢𝑝 1/2 ground state. The new half-life corresponds to a pure 𝐸⁢2 transition with a strength of 1.93(16) W.u., providing the most precise, unambiguous 𝐵⁡(𝐸⁢2) value in the neutron-rich 𝑓⁡𝑝 region to date for a nucleus with valence protons above 𝑍 = 20. Notably, it is roughly 4 times larger than the 𝐵⁡(𝐸⁢2;1/2 − → 5/2 − ) value in 55 Ca. The results, as compared to semiempirical and ab initio shell-model calculations, indicate (1) a weak 𝑁 = 34 subshell gap relative to 𝑁 = 32, (2) a large 𝐸⁢2 enhancement in Sc as compared to Ca due to 1⁢𝑝 − 1⁢ℎ proton excitations across 𝑍 = 28, and (3) empirical effective proton and neutron charges 𝑒 𝜋 = 1.30⁢(8)⁢𝑒 and 𝑒 𝜈 = 0.452⁢(7)⁢𝑒, respectively, that are in contrast to reports of 𝑒 𝜋 ≈1.1–1.15⁢𝑒 and 𝑒 𝜈 ≈ 0.6–0.8⁢𝑒 for 𝑓⁡𝑝-shell nuclei near 𝑁 = 𝑍. Here, we demonstrate that these reports are erroneous and that, in fact, a universal set of effective charges can be used across the 𝑠⁢𝑑 and 𝑓⁡𝑝 shells.

Beta decay↗
DOE OSTI2025

Universal corrections to the superfluid gap in a cold Fermi gas

A framework for computing the superfluid gap in an effective field theory (EFT) of fermions interacting via momentum-independent contact forces is developed. The leading universal corrections in the EFT are one-loop in-medium effects at the Fermi surface, and reproduce the well-known Gor'kov-Melik-Barkhudarov result. Here, the complete subleading universal corrections are presented here, and include one-loop effects away from the Fermi surface, two-loop in-medium effects, as well as modifications to the fermion propagator. Together, these effects are found to reduce the gap at low densities. Applications to neutron superfluidity in neutron stars are also discussed.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2025

BBN-simple: How to bake a universe-sized cake

Big Bang Nucleosynthesis (BBN), the process of creation of lightest elements in the early universe, is a highly robust, precise, and ultimately successful theory that forms one of the three pillars of the standard hot-Big-Bang cosmological model. Existing theoretical treatments of BBN and the associated computer codes are accurate and flexible, but are typically highly technical and opaque, and not suitable for pedagogical understanding of the BBN. Here we present BBN-simple - a from-scratch numerical calculation of the lightest element abundances pitched at an advanced undergraduate or beginning graduate level. We review the physics of the early universe relevant for BBN, provide information about the reaction rates, and discuss computational-mathematics background that is essential in setting up a BBN calculation. Here, we calculate the abundances of the principal nuclear species in a standard cosmological model, and find a reasonably good agreement with public precision-level BBN codes.

Big bang nucleosynthesis↗
DOE OSTI2026

Nonequilibrium universality of the nonreciprocally coupled 𝑂⁡(𝑛 1 ) × 𝑂⁡(𝑛 2 ) model

Nonequilibrium dynamics play an important role in all contexts of physics, both classical and quantum as well as living and nonliving, so it is crucial to develop a foundational understanding of nonequilibrium phase transitions. In this work we investigate an important class of nonequilibrium dynamics in the form of nonreciprocal interactions. In particular we study how nonreciprocal coupling between two 𝑂⁡(𝑛𝑖) order parameters (with 𝑖 = 1,2) affects the universality at a multicritical point, extending the analysis of J. T. Young et al. [Phys. Rev. X 10, 011039 (2020)], which considered the case 𝑛 1 = 𝑛 2 = 1, i.e., a ℤ 2 × ℤ 2 model. We show that nonequilibrium fixed points (NEFPs) emerge for a broad range of 𝑛 1 ,𝑛 2 and exhibit intrinsically nonequilibrium critical phenomena, namely a violation of fluctuation-dissipation relations at all scales and underdamped oscillations near criticality in contrast to the overdamped relaxational dynamics of the corresponding equilibrium models. Furthermore, the NEFPs exhibit an emergent discrete scale invariance in certain physically relevant regimes of 𝑛 1 ,𝑛 2 , but not others, depending on whether the critical exponent 𝜈 is real or complex. The boundary between these two regions is described by an exceptional point in the renormalization group (RG) flow, leading to distinctive features in correlation functions and the phase diagram. Another contrast with the previous work is the number and stability of the NEFPs as well as the underlying topology of the RG flow. Lastly, we investigate an extreme form of nonreciprocity where one order parameter is independent of the other order parameter but not vice versa. Unlike the ℤ 2 × ℤ 2 model, which becomes nonperturbative in this case, we identify a distinct nonequilibrium universality class whose dependent field similarly violates fluctuation-dissipation relations but does not exhibit discrete scale invariance or underdamped oscillations near criticality.

Critical phenomena↗
DOE OSTI2023

Coordination Chemistry as a Universal Strategy for a Controlled Perovskite Crystallization

The most efficient and stable perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are made from complex mixture of precursors, which are practically always dissolved in combinations of the volatile (and toxic) N, N-Dimethylformamide (DMF), and the non-volatile (and green) dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) solvents. Typically, to then form a thin film, an extreme oversaturation of the perovskite precursor is initiated to trigger nucleation sites, e.g. by vacuum, an airstream or a so-called antisolvent. Unfortunately, most such oversaturation triggers do not expel the lingering (and highly coordinating) DMSO, which is highly coordinating, from the thin films; this detrimentally affects long-term stability. Here, for the first time, we introduce (the green) dimethyl sulfide (DMS) as a novel nucleation trigger for perovskite films combining, uniquely, high coordination and high vapor pressure. More precisely, DMS coordinates more strongly than all currently used solvents, hence replacing them, including DMSO, effectively during film formation. Crucially, DMS also has among the highest vapor pressures reported in literature, thus effectively leaving the thin film shortly after formation. This gives DMS a universal scope: DMS replaces other solvents by coordinating more strongly and removes itself once the film formation is finished. To demonstrate this novel coordination chemistry approach, we process MAPbI 3 PSCs, typically dissolved in hard-to-remove (and green) DMSO achieving 21.6% efficiency, among the highest reported efficiencies for this system. To confirm the universality of our strategy, we tested DMS for FAPbI 3 as another composition, which showed higher efficiency of 23.5% compared to 20.9% for fabricated device with CB. Finally, this work provides a universal strategy to control perovskite crystallization using coordination chemistry heralding the revival of perovskite compositions with pure DMSO, such as MAPbI 3 .

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Universal Polarization Transformations: Spatial Programming of Polarization Scattering Matrices Using a Deep Learning‐Designed Diffractive Polarization Transformer

Abstract Controlled synthesis of optical fields having nonuniform polarization distributions presents a challenging task. Here, a universal polarization transformer is demonstrated that can synthesize a large set of arbitrarily‐selected, complex‐valued polarization scattering matrices between the polarization states at different positions within its input and output field‐of‐views (FOVs). This framework comprises 2D arrays of linear polarizers positioned between isotropic diffractive layers, each containing tens of thousands of diffractive features with optimizable transmission coefficients. After its deep learning‐based training, this diffractive polarization transformer can successfully implement N i N o = 10 000 different spatially‐encoded polarization scattering matrices with negligible error, where N i and N o represent the number of pixels in the input and output FOVs, respectively. This universal polarization transformation framework is experimentally validated in the terahertz spectrum by fabricating wire‐grid polarizers and integrating them with 3D‐printed diffractive layers to form a physical polarization transformer. Through this set‐up, an all‐optical polarization permutation operation of spatially‐varying polarization fields is demonstrated, and distinct spatially‐encoded polarization scattering matrices are simultaneously implemented between the input and output FOVs of a compact diffractive processor. This framework opens up new avenues for developing novel devices for universal polarization control and may find applications in, e.g., remote sensing, medical imaging, security, material inspection, and machine vision.

Optical neural networks↗
DOE OSTI2025

Investigating the universality of five-point QCD scattering amplitudes at high energy

We investigate 2 → 3 QCD scattering amplitudes in multi-Regge kinematics, i.e. where the final partons are strongly ordered in rapidity. In this regime amplitudes exhibit intriguing factorisation properties which can be understood in terms of effective degrees of freedom called reggeons. Working within the Balitsky/JIMWLK framework, we predict these amplitudes for the first time to next-to-next-to-leading logarithmic order, and compare against the limit of QCD scattering amplitudes in full colour and kinematics. We find that the latter can be described in terms of universal objects, and that the apparent non-universality arising at NNLL comes from well-defined and under-control contributions that we can predict. Thanks to this observation, we extract for the first time the universal vertex that controls the emission of the central-rapidity gluon, both in QCD and $\mathcal{N}$ = 4 super Yang-Mills.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2024

A new Monte Carlo generator for BSM physics in B → K*ℓ+ℓ− decays with an application to lepton non-universality in angular distributions

Abstract Within the widely used EvtGen framework, we have added a new event generator model forB → K * ℓ + ℓ − with improved standard model (SM) decay amplitudes and possible BSM physics contributions, which are implemented in the operator product expansion in terms of Wilson coefficients. This event generator can then be used to estimate the statistical sensitivity of a simulated experiment to the most general BSM signal resulting from dimension-six operators. We describe the advantages and potential of the newly developed ‘Sibidanov Physics Generator’ in improving the experimental sensitivity of searches for lepton non-universal BSM physics and clarifying signatures. The new generator can properly simulate BSM scenarios, interference between SM and BSM amplitudes, and correlations between different BSM observables as well as acceptance bias. We show that exploiting such correlations substantially improves experimental sensitivity. As a demonstration of the utility of the MC generator, we examine the prospects for improved measurements of lepton non-universality in angular distributions forB→K * ℓ + ℓ − decays from the expected 50 ab −1 data set of the Belle II experiment, using a four-dimensional unbinned maximum likelihood fit. We describe promising experimental signatures and correlations between observables. The use of lepton-universality violating ∆-observables significantly reduces uncertainties in the SM expectations due to QCD and resonance effects and is ideally suited for Belle II with the large data sets expected in the next decade. Thanks to the clean experimental environment of ane + e − machine, Belle II should be able to probe BSM physics in the Wilson coefficientsC 7 and$$ {C}_7^{\prime } $$ C 7 ′ , which appear at lowq 2 in the di-electron channel.

Physics↗
DOE OSTI2020

The fermionic universal one-loop effective action

Recent development of path integral matching techniques based on the covariant derivative expansion has made manifest a universal structure of one-loop effective Lagrangians. The universal terms can be computed once and for all to serve as a reference for one-loop matching calculations and to ease their automation. Here we present the fermionic universal one-loop effective action (UOLEA), resulting from integrating out heavy fermions (Dirac or Majorana) with scalar, pseudo-scalar, vector and axial-vector couplings. We also clarify the relation of the new terms computed here to terms previously computed in the literature and those that remain to complete the UOLEA. Our results can be readily used to efficiently obtain analytical expressions for effective operators arising from heavy fermion loops.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Universality of effective central charge in interface CFTs

When an interface connects two CFTs, the entanglement entropy between the two CFTs is determined by a quantity called the effective central charge. The effective central charge does not have a simple form in terms of the central charges of the two CFTs, but intricately depends on the transmissive properties of the interface. In this article, we examine universal properties of the effective central charge. We first clarify how the effective central charge appears when considering general subsystems of the interface CFT. Then using this result and ideas used in the proof of the c-theorem, we provide a universal upper bound on the effective central charge. In past studies, the effective central charge was defined only in two dimensions. We propose an analogue of the effective central charge in general dimensions possessing similar universal properties as in two dimensions.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Detection of early-universe gravitational-wave signatures and fundamental physics

Detection of a gravitational-wave signal of non-astrophysical origin would be a landmark discovery, potentially providing a significant clue to some of our most basic, big-picture scientific questions about the Universe. In this white paper, we survey the leading early-Universe mechanisms that may produce a detectable signal—including inflation, phase transitions, topological defects, as well as primordial black holes—and highlight the connections to fundamental physics. We review the complementarity with collider searches for new physics, and multimessenger probes of the large-scale structure of the Universe.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Universal correlation for falling film evaporation heat transfer coefficients of water and seawater

Horizontal falling film evaporators are widely utilized in desalination industries to increase fresh water supply. However, universal correlations for seawater falling film evaporation under varied operational and geometrical conditions are simply unavailable in open literature. Thus, this study aims to develop such a universal correlation for both plain and enhanced tubes. The detailed heat transfer mechanisms are reviewed, and rational parameters are incorporated to develop the universal correlation. A dataset of 994 data points from 9 sources covering a wide range of conditions was compiled. These conditions include Reynolds numbers from 10 to 7235, heat fluxes from 7.7 to 208 kW/m -2 , saturation temperatures from 278 to 401 K, salinities from 0 to 60 gsalt kg -1 water, tube diameters from 15.8 to 50.8 mm, and liquid feeder height to diameter ratios from 1 to 2.25. Upon analysis, it was found that most of the recommended existing correlations exhibited poor predictive accuracy, as evidenced by larger MADs. The developed correlation in this study demonstrated the best predictive accuracy for the entire dataset, yielding a MAD of 16.8 % and an R 2 of 0.82. Furthermore, the performance of the new correlation was individually assessed across a broader spectrum of operational and design conditions, reflecting the individual conditions’ influences with an overall MAD of 20 %.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2025

Universal scaling of electron transmission for nearly ballistic and quantum dragon nanodevices

Here, we predict two different universal scaling regimes for the quantum transmission of metallic nanodevices following the addition of a small amount of uncorrelated disorder. A nanodevice is connected to two thin semi-infinite uniform leads, and the Non-Equilibrium Green’s Function (NEGF) methodology yields the electron transmission $\mathscr{T}(E)$ as a function of the injected electron energy $E$. Ballistic nanodevices have no disorder and have $\mathscr{T}(E)=1$for all $E$ that allow electron propagation in the leads. Quantum dragon nanodevices can have extremely strong properly correlated disorder, and still have $\mathscr{T}(E)=1$for all $E$. Additional uncorrelated site disorder leads to Fano resonances in $\mathscr{T}(E)$. Averaging over the uncorrelated disorder we predict using perturbation theory two universal scaling regimes for $\mathscr{T}_{ave}(E)$. The functional form of both universal scaling regimes depend on the device length and width, energy, and variance of the uncorrelated disorder. The second scaling regime, valid for small but somewhat larger uncorrelated disorder than the first scaling regime, also has the form dependent on the density of states of the system. These two scaling regimes are demonstrated to be valid via large scale computer calculations.

Ballistic transport↗
DOE OSTI2022

Universal corner symmetry and the orbit method for gravity

A universal symmetry algebra organizing the gravitational phase space has been recently found. It corresponds to the subset of diffeomorphisms that become physical at corners – codimension-2 surfaces supporting Noether charges. It applies to both finite distance and asymptotic corners. In this paper, we study this algebra and its representations, via the coadjoint orbit method. We show that generic orbits of the universal algebra split into sub-orbits spanned by finite distance and asymptotic corner symmetries, such that the full universal symmetry algebra gives rise to a unified treatment of corners in a manifold. We then identify the geometric structure that captures these algebraic properties on corners, which is the Atiyah Lie algebroid associated to a principal GL(2,R) $\ltimes$ R 2 -bundle. This structure is suggestive of the existence of a novel quantum gravitational theory which would unitarily glue such geometric structures, with spacetime geometries appearing as semi-classical configurations.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Non-universal current flow near the metal-insulator transition in an oxide interface

In systems near phase transitions, macroscopic properties often follow algebraic scaling laws, determined by the dimensionality and the underlying symmetries of the system. The emergence of such universal scaling implies that microscopic details are irrelevant. Here, we locally investigate the scaling properties of the metal-insulator transition at the LaAlO 3 /SrTiO 3 interface. We show that, by changing the dimensionality and the symmetries of the electronic system, coupling between structural and electronic properties prevents the universal behavior near the transition. By imaging the current flow in the system, we reveal that structural domain boundaries modify the filamentary flow close to the transition point, preventing a fractal with the expected universal dimension from forming.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗