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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 217 records · Page 12
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2026

Higher-order interaction effects among operating conditions and feedstocks shape reactor microbiomes and fatty acid production profiles

Arrested anaerobic digestion (AAD) offers a promising route for producing fatty acids (FAs) from organic residues, yet optimal conditions for selectively generating medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) remain poorly defined. Here, we systematically evaluated the main and interaction effects of pH (5, 7, 9), feedstock (food waste, manure), temperature (35 and 45 °C), and inoculum source on microbiome composition and FA production. Anaerobic digester sludge and a novel bison rumen inoculum were compared. Significant higher-order interactions among operating parameters governed FA profiles and microbiome structure. Butyric acid production was driven by a three-way interaction among pH, feedstock, and temperature (p < 0.001), with maximum concentrations achieved in food waste reactors at pH 5.0 and 35 °C (1.2 ± 0.1 g L −1 with sludge and 1.1 ± 0.3 g L −1 with rumen). MCFA production exhibited significant four-way interactions (p < 0.1 to p < 0.001). At 45 °C and pH 5.0, inoculum source tuned MCFA selectivity: sludge favored pentanoic acid (0.4 ± 0.1 g L −1 ), whereas rumen favored hexanoic and heptanoic acids (up to 0.4 ± 0.2 g L −1 ). Manure reactors produced < 0.2 g L −1 MCFAs under all conditions. Genera, including Megasphaera, Prevotella, and Lactobacillus, were associated with production of specific MCFAs. PICRUSt2-based pathway predictions were consistent with MCFA production patterns and suggested a potential role for lactic acid–driven chain elongation pathways. This study provides insights into how interacting operating conditions shape AAD microbiomes, their FA profiles, and advances the trajectory of research aimed at engineering robust and controllable microbiomes for waste valorization.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗
DOE OSTI2014

Active galactic nucleus X-ray variability in the XMM-COSMOS survey

We used the observations carried out by XMM in the COSMOS field over 3.5 yr to study the long term variability of a large sample of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) (638 sources) in a wide range of redshifts (0.1 < z < 3.5) and X-ray luminosities (10{sup 41} < L {sub 0.5-10} <10{sup 45.5}). Both a simple statistical method to assess the significance of variability and the Normalized Excess Variance (σ{sub rms}{sup 2}) parameter were used to obtain a quantitative measurement of the variability. Variability is found to be prevalent in most AGNs, whenever we have good statistics to measure it, and no significant differences between type 1 and type 2 AGNs were found. A flat (slope –0.23 ± 0.03) anti-correlation between σ{sub rms}{sup 2} and X-ray luminosity is found when all significantly variable sources are considered together. When divided into three redshift bins, the anti-correlation becomes stronger and evolving with z, with higher redshift AGNs being more variable. We prove, however, that this effect is due to the pre-selection of variable sources: when considering all of the sources with an available σ{sub rms}{sup 2} measurement, the evolution in redshift disappears. For the first time, we were also able to study long term X-ray variability as a function of M {sub BH} and Eddington ratio for a large sample of AGNs spanning a wide range of redshifts. An anti-correlation between σ{sub rms}{sup 2} and M {sub BH} is found, with the same slope of anti-correlation between σ{sub rms}{sup 2} and X-ray luminosity, suggesting that the latter may be a by-product of the former. No clear correlation is found between σ{sub rms}{sup 2} and the Eddington ratio in our sample. Finally, no correlation is found between the X-ray σ{sub rms}{sup 2} and optical variability.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Composite Analysis Vadose Zone Transport of Selected Radionuclides Released from DOE O 435.1 Sources.

The main objectives of the composite analysis (CA) compliance case vadose zone (VZ) facet are to simulate transport of radionuclide releases from the surface to the water table, and to provide radionuclide transfer rates to groundwater for inclusion into the Plateau-to-River (P2R) saturated zone (SZ) model (CP-57037, Model Package Report: Plateau to River Groundwater Model, Version 8.3). The parallel exascale version of the Subsurface Transport Over Multiple Phases (eSTOMP1) simulator is used to simulate flow and transport for the CA VZ models. The CA compliance case approach to address the scale and distribution of contaminant sources in the VZ facet is to subdivide the Hanford Site Central Plateau into 26 models that contain contaminant sources and liquid discharges likely to commingle during migration through the VZ to the water table.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2021

The rapid transition from star formation to AGN-dominated rest-frame ultraviolet light at z ≃ 4

ABSTRACT With the advent of deep optical-to-near-infrared extragalactic imaging on the degree scale, samples of high-redshift sources are being selected that contain both bright star-forming (SF) galaxies and faint active galactic nuclei (AGN). In this study, we investigate the transition between SF- and AGN-dominated systems at z ≃ 4 in the rest-frame ultraviolet (UV). We find a rapid transition to AGN-dominated sources brightward of MUV ≃ −23.2. The effect is observed in the rest-frame UV morphology and size–luminosity relation, where extended clumpy systems become point-source-dominated, and also in the available spectra for the sample. These results allow us to derive the rest-frame UV luminosity function (LF) for the SF- and AGN-dominated subsamples. We find the SF-dominated LF is best fit with a double power law, with a lensed Schechter function being unable to explain the existence of extremely luminous SF galaxies at MUV ≃ −23.5. If we identify AGN-dominated sources according to a point-source morphology criterion, we recover the relatively flat faint-end slope of the AGN LF determined in previous studies. If we instead separate the LF according to the current spectroscopic AGN fraction, we find a steeper faint-end slope of α = −1.83 ± 0.11. Using a simple model to predict the rest-frame AGN LF from the z = 4 galaxy LF, we find that the increasing impact of host galaxy light on the measured morphology of faint AGN can explain our observations.

Bowler, R. A. A.↗
DOE OSTI2015

Plasma driven neutron/gamma generator

An apparatus for the generation of neutron/gamma rays is described including a chamber which defines an ion source, said apparatus including an RF antenna positioned outside of or within the chamber. Positioned within the chamber is a target material. One or more sets of confining magnets are also provided to create a cross B magnetic field directly above the target. To generate neutrons/gamma rays, the appropriate source gas is first introduced into the chamber, the RF antenna energized and a plasma formed. A series of high voltage pulses are then applied to the target. A plasma sheath, which serves as an accelerating gap, is formed upon application of the high voltage pulse to the target. Depending upon the selected combination of source gas and target material, either neutrons or gamma rays are generated, which may be used for cargo inspection, and the like.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2013

Intrinsically polarized stars and implication for star formation in the central parsec of our galaxy

We have carried out adaptive-optics assisted observations at the Subaru Telescope and have found 11 intrinsically polarized sources in the central parsec of our Galaxy. They are selected from 318 point sources with K{sub S} < 15.5, and their interstellar polarizations are corrected using a Stokes Q/I-U/I diagram. Considering brightness, near-infrared color excess, and the amount of intrinsic polarization, two of them are good young stellar object (YSO) candidates with an age of ∼10{sup 5} yr. If they are genuine YSOs, their existence provides strong constraints on star formation mechanisms in this region. In the remaining sources, two are known as bow-shock sources in the Northern Arm. One other is also located in the Northern Arm and shows very similar properties, and thus it is likely to be a so far unknown bow-shock source. The origin of the intrinsic polarization of the other sources is as yet uncertain.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2015

THE BOLOCAM GALACTIC PLANE SURVEY. XI. TEMPERATURES AND SUBSTRUCTURE OF GALACTIC CLUMPS BASED ON 350 μM OBSERVATIONS

We present 107 maps of continuum emission at 350 μm from Galactic molecular clumps. Observed sources were mainly selected from the Bolocam Galactic Plane Survey (BGPS) catalog, with three additional maps covering star-forming regions in the outer Galaxy. The higher resolution of the SHARC-II images (8.″5 beam) compared with the 1.1 mm images from BGPS (33″ beam) allowed us to identify a large population of smaller substructures within the clumps. A catalog is presented for the 1386 sources extracted from the 350 μm maps. The color temperature distribution of clumps based on the two wavelengths has a median of 13.3 K and mean of 16.3 ± 0.4 K, assuming an opacity law index of 1.7. For the structures with good determination of color temperatures, the mean ratio of gas temperature, determined from NH{sub 3} observations, to dust color temperature is 0.88 and the median ratio is 0.76. About half the clumps have more than 2 substructures and 22 clumps have more than 10. The fraction of the mass in dense substructures seen at 350 μm compared to the mass of their parental clump is ∼0.19, and the surface densities of these substructures are, on average, 2.2 times those seen in the clumps identified at 1.1 mm. For a well-characterized sample, 88 structures (31%) exceed a surface density of 0.2 g cm{sup −2}, and 18 (6%) exceed 1.0 g cm{sup −2}, thresholds for massive star formation suggested by theorists.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Position-Specific Carbon Isotope Fingerprinting of Fluorinated Organics and Degradation Products

Fluorinated organic compounds are of growing environmental and forensic relevance due to their widespread use in pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and consumer products, their environmental persistence, and potential ecological and human health impacts. Elucidating their sources and transformation pathways is therefore a major focus of current research. Stable carbon isotope analysis provides a powerful approach for tracing molecular origins and linking parent compounds to degradation products. Recent isotope measurements have largely relied on mass-spectrometry techniques, which provide only an average isotope ratio across a compound. In this work, we employ a novel nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy tool to determine position-specific carbon isotope ratios ( 13 C/ 12 C) in organofluorine compounds and their degradation products. This approach enables isotope measurements without combustion or extensive purification and, crucially, resolves ratios at individual carbon positions rather than bulk averages. The resulting intramolecular isotope fingerprints are unique to a molecule’s source. Applied to selected pharmaceuticals and pesticides, these fingerprints allow discrimination of chemically identical compounds. Moreover, we show that the 13 C/ 12 C signature at the fluorinated carbon persists through degradation, demonstrated for lansoprazole and fipronil. The 19 F NMR data produced for the 13 C/ 12 C analyses are also well suited for impurity profiling, providing an additional dimension for fingerprinting fluorinated organics. These findings suggest that position-specific isotope analysis can serve as part of a broader suite of tools for source characterization of organofluorine compounds and their breakdown derivatives, with potential applications in product validation, forensics, and linking these compounds to their breakdown products.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2014

mJIVE-20: A survey for compact mJy radio objects with the very long baseline array

We present the description and early results of the mJy Imaging VLBA Exploration at 20 cm (mJIVE-20). mJIVE-20 is a large project on the Very Long Baseline Array which is systematically inspecting a large sample of mJy radio sources, pre-selected from the Faint Images of the Radio Sky at Twenty cm (FIRST) survey made with the Very Large Array, to identify any compact emission that may be present. The survey is being undertaken using filler time on the VLBA, which utilizes short segments scheduled in bad weather and/or with a reduced number of antennas, during which no highly rated science projects can be scheduled. The newly available multifield capability of the VLBA makes it possible for us to inspect of the order of 100 sources per hour of observing time with a 6.75σ detection sensitivity of approximately 1 mJy beam{sup –1}. The results of the mJIVE-20 survey are made publicly available as soon as the data are calibrated. After 18 months of observing, over 20,000 FIRST sources have been inspected, with 4336 very long baseline interferometry detections. These initial results suggest that within the range 1-200 mJy, fainter sources are somewhat more likely to be dominated by a very compact component than brighter sources. Over half of all arcsecond-scale mJy radio sources contain a compact component, although the fraction of sources that are dominated by milliarcsecond scale structure (where the majority of the arcsecond scale flux is recovered in the mJIVE-20 image) is smaller at around 30%-35%, increasing toward lower flux densities. Significant differences are seen depending on the optical classification of the source. Radio sources with a stellar/point-like counterpart in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) are more likely to be detected overall, but this detection likelihood appears to be independent of the arcsecond-scale radio flux density. The trend toward higher radio compactness for fainter sources is confined to sources that are not detected in SDSS or that have counterparts classified as galaxies. These results are consistent with a unification model of active galactic nuclei in which less luminous sources have on average slower radio jets, with lower Doppler suppression of compact core emission over a wider range of viewing angles.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2018

3-D Volumetric Gamma-ray Imaging and Source Localization with a Mobile Robot - 18124

Radiation detection has largely been a manual inspection process with point sensors such as Geiger-Muller counters and scintillation spectrometers to date. While their observations of source proximity prove useful, they lack the directional information necessary for efficient source localization and characterization in cluttered environments with multiple radiation sources. The recent commercialization of Compton gamma cameras provides directional information to the broader radiation detection community for the first time. This paper presents the integration of a Compton gamma camera with a self-localizing ground robot for accurate 3D radiation mapping. Using the position and orientation of the robot, radiation images from the gamma camera are accumulated over a traversed path in a shared frame of reference to construct a consistent voxel grid-based radiation map. The peaks of the map at pre-specified energy windows are selected as the source location estimates, which are compared to the ground truth source locations. The proposed approach localizes multiple sources to within an average of 0.2 m in two 5 x 4 m{sup 2} and 14 x 6 m{sup 2} laboratory environments. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2015

OPTICAL SPECTROSCOPIC OBSERVATIONS OF γ-RAY BLAZAR CANDIDATES. III. THE 2013/2014 CAMPAIGN IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE

We report the results of our exploratory program carried out with the southern Astrophysical Research telescope aimed at associating counterparts and establishing the nature of the Fermi Unidentified γ-ray Sources (UGSs). We selected the optical counterparts of six UGSs from the Fermi catalog on the basis of our recently discovered tight connection between infrared and γ-ray emission found for the γ-ray blazars detected by the Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer in its all-sky survey. We perform for the first time a spectroscopic study of the low-energy counterparts of the Fermi UGSs, in the optical band, confirming the blazar-like nature of the whole sample. We also present new spectroscopic observations of six active galaxies of uncertain type associated with Fermi sources which appear to be BL Lac objects. Finally, we report the spectra collected for six known γ-ray blazars belonging to the Roma BZCAT that were obtained to establish their nature or better estimate their redshifts. Two interesting cases of high redshift and extremely luminous BL Lac objects (z ≥ 1.18 and z ≥ 1.02, based on the detection of Mg ii intervening systems) are also discussed.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2024

A Survey of Open-Source Tools for Transmission and Distribution Systems Research

This work presents a review of open-source electric power transmission and distribution systems analysis tools suitable for use by industry professionals and academic researchers. Due to the high complexity of the electric grid, there exist numerous tools and extensive research pertaining to nearly every aspect of the design, operation, and control of transmission and distribution networks. In addition to the commercial tools, a wide range of free, open-source tools, models, and data usable by the scientific community for related research have been developed by different organizations, including both international and US universities and national laboratories. However, due to the absence of a catalog of available tools, models and data, researchers often lack a knowledge of existing capabilities and may develop duplicative software and tools. Increasing awareness of these available resources seeks to accelerate their broader use, leading to more efficient and standardized grid analysis. This review paper (which is part of a larger survey effort that studied over 400 tools in the transmission, distribution, buildings, and electric vehicles space) outlines selected open-source resources that have been developed in power transmission and distribution systems research. It is anticipated that this work can serve as a guide for industry and academic researchers alike, ensuring that research efforts are well-channeled.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2015

THE CHANDRA SURVEY OF EXTRAGALACTIC SOURCES IN THE 3CR CATALOG: X-RAY EMISSION FROM NUCLEI, JETS, AND HOTSPOTS IN THE CHANDRA ARCHIVAL OBSERVATIONS

As part of our program to build a complete radio and X-ray database of all Third Cambridge catalog extragalactic radio sources, we present an analysis of 93 sources for which Chandra archival data are available. Most of these sources have already been published. Here we provide a uniform re-analysis and present nuclear X-ray fluxes and X-ray emission associated with radio jet knots and hotspots using both publicly available radio images and new radio images that have been constructed from data available in the Very Large Array archive. For about 1/3 of the sources in the selected sample, a comparison between the Chandra and radio observations was not reported in the literature: we find X-ray detections of 2 new radio jet knots and 17 hotspots. We also report the X-ray detection of extended emission from the intergalactic medium for 15 galaxy clusters.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2016

Angular correlation between IceCube high-energy starting events and starburst sources

Starburst galaxies and star-forming regions in the Milkyway, with high rate of supernova activities, are candidate sources of high-energy neutrinos. Using a gamma-ray selected sample of these sources we perform statistical analysis of their angular correlation with the four-year sample of high-energy starting events (HESE), detected by the IceCube Neutrino Observatory. We find that the two samples (starburst galaxies and local star-forming regions) are correlated with cosmic neutrinos at ∼ (2–3)σ (pre-trial) significance level, when the full HESE sample with deposited energy ∼> 20 TeV is considered. However when we consider the HESE sample with deposited energy ∼> 60 TeV, which is almost free of atmospheric neutrino and muon backgrounds, the significance of correlation decreased drastically. We perform a similar study for Galactic sources in the 2nd Catalog of Hard Fermi -LAT Sources (2FHL, >50 GeV) catalog as well, obtaining ∼ (2–3)σ (pre-trial) correlation, however the significance of correlation increases with higher cutoff energy in the HESE sample for this case. We also fit available gamma-ray data from these sources using a pp interaction model and calculate expected neutrino fluxes. We find that the expected neutrino fluxes for most of the sources are at least an order of magnitude lower than the fluxes required to produce the HESE neutrinos from these sources. This puts the starburst sources being the origin of the IceCube HESE neutrinos in question.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Model Predictive Control for a Grid-interactive Efficient Thermal Storage-integrated Heat Pump System

Building heating and cooling systems can be used to overcome the mismatch between the intermittent supply of renewable power and the fluctuating demand for electricity. A novel underground thermal energy storage integrated with a dual-source heat pump has been proposed to mitigate the mismatch while meeting the thermal demand of buildings efficiently. Conventional thermostat control with heuristic rules cannot provide intelligent decisions to maximize the thermal efficiency and flexibility of the proposed system. Advanced control strategies like model predictive control (MPC) have provided a new paradigm for grid-interactive efficient building operation with the advancement of computation and sensing. This study developed an MPC for the proposed system to provide grid service for Demand Side Management and minimize the operating cost of building owners. A control-oriented dynamic model of the proposed system has been developed. Given an objective function and proper constraints, an optimization problem is formulated to determine the optimal control strategy of the system. Dynamic Programming is adopted to solve the optimization problem. A rule-based control (RBC) is also developed to achieve similar goals. Short-term simulations are conducted to compare the system performance resulting from the two controls. The simulation results indicate that the MPC performs more intelligently than the RBC in charging thermal energy storage and selecting heat pump sources by taking advantage of the predicted cooling demands of the building and the performance of the integrated system. As a result, the MPC could save energy and reduce operating costs compared with the RBC. A case study shows that, for a 3-day operation, the MPC saves 36.9% energy and reduces 38.5% operating cost compared with the RBC.

Shi, Liang↗
DOE OSTI2015

Pronounced Size Dependence in Structure and Morphology of Gas-Phase Produced, Partially Oxidized Cobalt Nanoparticles under Catalytic Reaction Conditions

It is generally accepted that optimal particle sizes are key for efficient nanocatalysis. Much less attention is paid to the role of morphology and atomic arrangement during catalytic reactions. Here we unravel the structural, stoichiometric, and morphological evolution of gas-phase produced cobalt nanoparticles in a broad size range. Particles with diameters between 1.4 nm and 22nm generated in cluster sources are size selected and deposited on amorphous alumina (Al2O3) and ultrananocrystalline diamond (UNCD) films. A combination of different techniques is employed to monitor particle properties at the stages of production, exposure to ambient conditions, and catalytic reaction, in this case the oxidative dehydrogenation of cyclohexane at elevated temperatures. A pronounced size dependence is found, naturally classifying the particles into three size regimes. While small and intermediate clusters essentially retain their compact morphology, large particles transform into hollow spheres due to the nanoscale Kirkendall effect. Depending on the substrate an isotropic (Al2O3) or anisotropic (UNCD) Kirkendall effect is observed. The latter results in dramatic lateral size changes. Our results shed light on the interplay between chemical reactions and the catalyst's structure and provide an approach to tailor the cobalt oxide phase composition required for specific catalytic schemes.

cluster source↗
DOE OSTI2014

A spectroscopic survey of WISE-selected obscured quasars with the southern african large telescope

We present the results of an optical spectroscopic survey of a sample of 40 candidate obscured quasars identified on the basis of their mid-infrared emission detected by the Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE). Optical spectra for this survey were obtained using the Robert Stobie Spectrograph on the Southern African Large Telescope. Our sample was selected with WISE colors characteristic of active galactic nuclei (AGNs), as well as red optical to mid-IR colors indicating that the optical/UV AGN continuum is obscured by dust. We obtain secure redshifts for the majority of the objects that comprise our sample (35/40), and find that sources that are bright in the WISE W4 (22 μm) band are typically at moderate redshift ((z) = 0.35) while sources fainter in W4 are at higher redshifts ((z) = 0.73). The majority of the sources have narrow emission lines with optical colors and emission line ratios of our WISE-selected sources that are consistent with the locus of AGN on the rest-frame g – z color versus [Ne III] λ3869/[O II] λλ3726+3729 line ratio diagnostic diagram. We also use empirical AGN and galaxy templates to model the spectral energy distributions (SEDs) for the objects in our sample, and find that while there is significant variation in the observed SEDs for these objects, the majority require a strong AGN component. Finally, we use the results from our analysis of the optical spectra and the SEDs to compare our selection criteria to alternate criteria presented in the literature. These results verify the efficacy of selecting luminous obscured AGNs based on their WISE colors.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2014

Search for bright nearby M dwarfs with virtual observatory tools

Using Virtual Observatory tools, we cross-matched the Carlsberg Meridian 14 and the 2MASS Point Source catalogs to select candidate nearby bright M dwarfs distributed over ∼25,000 deg{sup 2}. Here, we present reconnaissance low-resolution optical spectra for 27 candidates that were observed with the Intermediate Dispersion Spectrograph at the 2.5 m Isaac Newton Telescope (R≈ 1600). We derived spectral types from a new spectral index, R, which measures the ratio of fluxes at 7485-7015 Å and 7120-7150 Å. We also used VOSA, a Virtual Observatory tool for spectral energy distribution fitting, to derive effective temperatures and surface gravities for each candidate. The resulting 27 targets were M dwarfs brighter than J = 10.5 mag, 16 of which were completely new in the Northern hemisphere and 7 of which were located at less than 15 pc. For all of them, we also measured Hα and Na I pseudo-equivalent widths, determined photometric distances, and identified the most active stars. The targets with the weakest sodium absorption, namely, J0422+2439 (with X-ray and strong Hα emissions), J0435+2523, and J0439+2333, are new members in the young Taurus-Auriga star-forming region based on proper motion, spatial distribution, and location in the color-magnitude diagram, which reopens the discussion on the deficit of M2-4 Taurus stars. Finally, based on proper motion diagrams, we report on a new wide M dwarf binary system in the field, LSPM J0326+3929EW.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗