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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 253 records · Page 14
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2020

A simple vacuum suitcase for enabling plasma facing component characterization in fusion devices

We have demonstrated a vacuum suitcase to transport samples in vacuo to a surface analysis station for characterization of tokamak plasma facing components (PFCs). This technique enables surface analysis at powerful, dedicated stations that are not encumbered by design constraints imposed on them by a tokamak. The vacuum suitcase is an alternative solution to characterizing PFCs using diagnostics that are designed and built around a tokamak. The vacuum suitcase, called the Sample Exposure Probe (SEP), features mobile ultra-high vacuum pumping. Active pumping under high vacuum enables sample transfer between the Lithium Tokamak eXperiment-β (LTX-β) and a high resolution X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) system that is situated close by. A thermocouple inserted in the back of the sample head measures heat flux from the plasma during exposure, and together with a button heater, allows the sample to match the LTX-β PFCs in high temperature operations. As vacuum conditions are better during transfer and analysis than in the tokamak, less contamination is introduced to the samples. XPS scans on a dedicated analysis station enable peak identification due to higher resolution and signal to noise ratio. A similar probe could be implemented for other fusion devices. As a result, the SEP is the first vacuum suitcase implementation for fusion applications that incorporates active pumping.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2021

New high-throughput endstation to accelerate the experimental optimization pipeline for synchrotron X-ray footprinting

Synchrotron X-ray footprinting (XF) is a growing structural biology technique that leverages radiation-induced chemical modifications via X-ray radiolysis of water to produce hydroxyl radicals that probe changes in macromolecular structure and dynamics in solution states of interest. The X-ray Footprinting of Biological Materials (XFP) beamline at the National Synchrotron Light Source II provides the structural biology community with access to instrumentation and expert support in the XF method, and is also a platform for development of new technological capabilities in this field. Hee, the design and implementation of a new high-throughput endstation device based around use of a 96-well PCR plate form factor and supporting diagnostic instrumentation for synchrotron XF is described. This development enables a pipeline for rapid comprehensive screening of the influence of sample chemistry on hydroxyl radical dose using a convenient fluorescent assay, illustrated here with a study of 26 organic compounds. The new high-throughput endstation device and sample evaluation pipeline now available at the XFP beamline provide the worldwide structural biology community with a robust resource for carrying out well optimized synchrotron XF studies of challenging biological systems with complex sample compositions.

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEA↗
DOE OSTI2024

Readout optimization of multi-amplifier sensing charge-coupled devices for single-quantum measurement

The non-destructive readout capability of the Skipper Charge Coupled Device (CCD) has been demonstrated to reduce the noise limitation of conventional silicon devices to levels that allow single-photon or single-electron counting. The noise reduction is achieved by taking multiple measurements of the charge in each pixel. These multiple measurements come at the cost of extra readout time, which has been a limitation for the broader adoption of this technology in particle physics, quantum imaging, and astronomy applications. This work presents recent results of a novel sensor architecture that uses multiple non-destructive floating-gate amplifiers in series to achieve sub-electron readout noise in a thick, fully-depleted silicon detector to overcome the readout time overhead of the Skipper-CCD. This sensor is called the Multiple-Amplifier Sensing Charge-Coupled Device (MAS-CCD) can perform multiple independent charge measurements with each amplifier, and the measurements from multiple amplifiers can be combined to further reduce the readout noise. We will show results obtained for sensors with 8 and 16 amplifiers per readout stage in new readout operations modes to optimize its readout speed. The noise reduction capability of the new techniques will be demonstrated in terms of its ability to reduce the noise by combining the information from the different amplifiers, and to resolve signals in the order of a single photon per pixel. The first readout operation explored here avoids the extra readout time needed in the MAS-CCD to read a line of the sensor associated with the extra extent of the serial register. The second technique explore the capability of the MAS-CCD device to perform a region of interest readout increasing the number of multiple samples per amplifier in a targeted region of the active area of the device.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2015

Reexamination of the evidence for entanglement in a quantum annealer

A recent experiment claimed to provide evidence of up to eight-qubit entanglement in a D-Wave quantum annealing device. However, entanglement was measured using qubit tunneling spectroscopy, a technique that provides indirect access to the state of the system at intermediate times during the anneal by performing measurements at the end of the anneal with a probe qubit. In addition, an underlying assumption was that the quantum transverse-field Ising Hamiltonian, whose ground states are already highly entangled, is an appropriate model of the device and not some other (possibly classical) model. This begs the question of whether alternative classical or semiclassical models would be equally effective at predicting the observed spectrum and thermal state populations. To check this, we consider a recently proposed classical rotor model with classical Monte Carlo updates, which has been successfully employed in describing features of earlier experiments involving the device. Further, we consider simulated quantum annealing with quantum Monte Carlo updates, an algorithm that samples from the instantaneous Gibbs state of the device Hamiltonian. Finally, we use the quantum adiabatic master equation, which cannot be efficiently simulated classically and which has previously been used to successfully capture the open-system quantum dynamics of the device. We find that only the master equation is able to reproduce the features of the tunneling spectroscopy experiment, while both the classical rotor model and simulated quantum annealing fail to reproduce the experimental results. We argue that this bolsters the evidence for the reported entanglement.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Overcoming the sensitivity vs. throughput tradeoff in Coulter counters: A novel side counter design

We report microfabricated Coulter counters are attractive for point of care (POC) applications since they are label free and compact. However, these approaches inherently suffer from a trade off between sample throughput and sensitivity. The counter measures a change in impedance due to displaced fluid volume by passing cells, and thus the counter's signal increases with the fraction of the sensing volume displaced. Reducing the size of the sensing region requires reductions in volumetric throughput in the absence of increased hydraulic pressure and sensor bandwidth. The risk of mechanical clog formation, rendering the counter inoperable, increases markedly with reductions in the size of the constriction aperture. We present here a microfluidic coplanar Coulter counter device design that overcomes the problem of constriction clogging while capable of operating in microfluidic channels filled entirely with highly conductive sample. The device utilizes microfabricated planar electrodes projecting into one side of the microfluidic channel and is easily integrated with upstream electronic, hydrodynamic, or other focusing units to produce efficient counting which could allow for dramatically increased volumetric and sample throughput. The design lends itself to simple, cost effective POC applications.

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

Electrical-transport, magnetoresistance and magnetic properties of La{sub 0.7}Ca{sub 0.3}MnO{sub 3} and La{sub 0.7}Ca{sub 0.24}Sr{sub 0.06}MnO{sub 3} single crystals

We report the electrical-transport, magnetoresistance and magnetic properties of the hole doped La{sub 0.7}Ca{sub 0.3}MnO{sub 3} (LCMO) and La{sub 0.7}Ca{sub 0.24}Sr{sub 0.06}MnO{sub 3} (LCSMO) single crystals. It was prepared using floating zone technique. The resistivity data shows the metal to insulator transition (T{sub MI}) occurs at 211 K along c-axis and T{sub MI} = 185 K the ab-plane for LCMO and T{sub MI} = 290 K along the c-axis and T{sub MI} = 280 K along the ab-plane for LCSMO single crystals. It is observed that the T{sub MI} is higher along the c-axis as compared to that in the ab-plane, consequently signifying more favorable hoping of electrons is along the c-axis. The ac-susceptibility measurement shows that this material exhibits ferromagnetic to paramagnetic transition temperature (TC) at 206 K for LCMO and T{sub C} = 277 K for LCSMO single crystals. For magnetic memory device application point of view, the sample shows the maximum MR of 98% for LCMO and 80% for LCSMO single crystals at 8T applied magnetic field. Doping small amount of Sr (0.06%) reveals that the electronic and magnetic phase transition in CMR single crystal increases substantially and useful for device application. This is first time such type of comparative study in these manganite single crystals.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2019

Characterizing the Distribution of Microwave Surface Resistance of HTS Film Based on Metal Ring

This paper presents a novel method for measuring the microwave surface resistance distribution of high-temperature superconducting thin films by a dielectric resonator with a metal ring. After calibration, the effect of metal ring loss on measurement accuracy is negligible. The measurement resolution is determined by the internal diameter of the metal ring, which makes the design of the device more flexible. Therefore, measurement with high resolution and convenience can be achieved simultaneously by using a metal ring with proper size and operating at a relatively low frequency. A test device working at 32 GHz with TE{sub 01(1 + δ)} mode was developed. Its resolution is a circular area with a diameter of 5 mm and an area of 19.6 mm{sup 2}. The unloaded quality factor of the test device is more than 140,000, when it is loaded by the calibration cavity. The test device has a relative uncertainty of less than 6%, which complies with the uncertainty (20%) specified by the international standard for the microwave surface resistance measurement of high-temperature superconducting (HTS) thin film. The surface resistance distribution of a 2-in. YBCO/LAO/YBCO superconducting film sample was measured by this test device.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2022

Classical Simulation of Boson Sampling Based on Graph Structure

Boson sampling is a fundamentally and practically important task that can be used to demonstrate quantum supremacy using noisy intermediate-scale quantum devices. In this Letter, we present classical sampling algorithms for single-photon and Gaussian input states that take advantage of a graph structure of a linear-optical circuit. The algorithms’ complexity grows as so-called treewidth, which is closely related to the connectivity of a given linear-optical circuit. Using the algorithms, we study approximated simulations for local Haar-random linear-optical circuits. For equally spaced initial sources, we show that, when the circuit depth is less than the quadratic in the lattice spacing, the efficient simulation is possible with an exponentially small error. Notably, right after this depth, photons start to interfere each other and the algorithms’ complexity becomes subexponential in the number of sources, implying that there is a sharp transition of its complexity. Finally, when a circuit is sufficiently deep enough for photons to typically propagate to all modes, the complexity becomes exponential as generic sampling algorithms. We numerically implement a likelihood test with a recent Gaussian boson sampling experiment and show that the treewidth-based algorithm with a limited treewidth renders a larger likelihood than the experimental data.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2015

Charge storage in β-FeSi{sub 2} nanoparticles

We report on the observation of a surprisingly high specific capacitance of β-FeSi{sub 2} nanoparticle layers. Lateral, interdigitated capacitor structures were fabricated on thermally grown silicon dioxide and covered with β-FeSi{sub 2} particles by drop or spin casting. The β-FeSi{sub 2}-nanoparticles, with crystallite sizes in the range of 10–30 nm, were fabricated by gas phase synthesis in a hot wall reactor. Compared to the bare electrodes, the nanoparticle-coated samples exhibit a 3–4 orders of magnitude increased capacitance. Time-resolved current voltage measurements show that for short times (seconds to minutes), the material is capable of storing up to 1 As/g at voltages of around 1 V. The devices are robust and exhibit long-term stability under ambient conditions. The specific capacitance is highest for a saturated relative humidity, while for a relative humidity below 40% the capacitance is almost indistinguishable from a nanoparticle-free reference sample. The devices work without the need of a fluid phase, the charge storing material is abundant and cost effective, and the sample design is easy to fabricate.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2016

Highly repeatable room temperature negative differential resistance in AlN/GaN resonant tunneling diodes grown by molecular beam epitaxy

AlN/GaN resonant tunneling diodes grown on low dislocation density semi-insulating bulk GaN substrates via plasma-assisted molecular-beam epitaxy are reported. The devices were fabricated using a six mask level, fully isolated process. Stable room temperature negative differential resistance (NDR) was observed across the entire sample. The NDR exhibited no hysteresis, background light sensitivity, or degradation of any kind after more than 1000 continuous up-and-down voltage sweeps. The sample exhibited a ∼90% yield of operational devices which routinely displayed an average peak current density of 2.7 kA/cm{sup 2} and a peak-to-valley current ratio of ≈1.15 across different sizes.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2019

Synchrophasor measurement method for power systems

A synchrophasor measurement method for a device configured to take synchronized measurements in a power system is provided. The synchrophasor measurement method includes receiving global positioning system (GPS)-synchronized samples of a signal sensed by the device from the power system; determining a level of distortion of the signal; selecting, based on the level of distortion, a computation method, the computation method being one of an improved zero-crossing (IZC) method and an enhanced phase-lock-loop (EPLL) method; performing the selected computation method to determine at least one parameter of the signal at a reporting frequency, which is at least twice a line frequency of the power system; and outputting, at the reporting frequency, the at least one parameter to an operator of the power system to allow the operator to perform at least one of a monitoring and a controlling of at least one element of the power system.

Yao, Wenxuan↗
DOE OSTI2015

High-bandwidth, high-sampling-rate, low-noise, two-probe transient photovoltage measuring system

In this article, we present a two-probe configuration for measuring transient photovoltage (TPV) signals from photo-electronic semiconductor devices. Unlike in a conventional one-probe system, the two electrodes of the devices under test in this study are both monitored in our new measuring system, giving rise to a significantly enhanced signal-to-noise ratio. Tentative experimental data ob tained from N, N′-Di(1-naphthyl)-N,N′-diphenyl-(1,1′-biphenyl)-4,4′-diamine-based organic semiconductor devices show that the bandwidth and the sampling rate of the system reach 1.5 GHz and 50 GS/s, respectively, without degradation of the noise level. In addition, the study of TPV signals on each individual electrode is allowed. The TPV values measured by the two individual probes are not identically equal to half of the differential TPV and will not cancel each other out as expected. This abnormal phenomenon is due to the photoelectric response of the photo-electronic material. This novel two-probe TPV measuring technique and abnormal TPV behavior might be useful for studying more dynamic processes in photo-electronic semiconductors.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2023

Sample-efficient verification of continuously-parameterized quantum gates for small quantum processors

Most near-term quantum information processing devices will not be capable of implementing quantum error correction and the associated logical quantum gate set. Instead, quantum circuits will be implemented directly using the physical native gate set of the device. These native gates often have a parameterization (e.g., rotation angles) which provide the ability to perform a continuous range of operations. Verification of the correct operation of these gates across the allowable range of parameters is important for gaining confidence in the reliability of these devices. In this work, we demonstrate a procedure for sample-efficient verification of continuously-parameterized quantum gates for small quantum processors of up to approximately 10 qubits. This procedure involves generating random sequences of randomly-parameterized layers of gates chosen from the native gate set of the device, and then stochastically compiling an approximate inverse to this sequence such that executing the full sequence on the device should leave the system near its initial state. We show that fidelity estimates made via this technique have a lower variance than fidelity estimates made via cross-entropy benchmarking. This provides an experimentally-relevant advantage in sample efficiency when estimating the fidelity loss to some desired precision. We describe the experimental realization of this technique using continuously-parameterized quantum gate sets on a trapped-ion quantum processor from Sandia QSCOUT and a superconducting quantum processor from IBM Q, and we demonstrate the sample efficiency advantage of this technique both numerically and experimentally.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2016

Evaluating the effect of sample type on American alligator ( Alligator mississippiensis ) analyte values in a point-of-care blood analyser

The assessment of wildlife health has been enhanced by the ability of point-of-care (POC) blood analysers to provide biochemical analyses of non-domesticated animals in the field. However, environmental limitations (e.g. temperature, atmospheric humidity and rain) and lack of reference values may inhibit researchers from using such a device with certain wildlife species. Evaluating the use of alternative sample types, such as plasma, in a POC device may afford researchers the opportunity to delay sample analysis and the ability to use banked samples. In this study, we examined fresh whole blood, fresh plasma and frozen plasma (sample type) pH, partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO 2 ), bicarbonate (HCO 3 ₋), total carbon dioxide (TCO 2 ), base excess (BE), partial pressure of oxygen (PO 2 ), oxygen saturation (sO 2 ) and lactate concentrations in 23 juvenile American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) using an i-STAT CG4+ cartridge. Our results indicate that sample type had no effect on lactate concentration values (F 2,65 = 0.37, P = 0.963), suggesting that the i-STAT analyser can be used reliably to quantify lactate concentrations in fresh and frozen plasma samples. In contrast, the other seven blood parameters measured by the CG4+ cartridge were significantly affected by sample type. In conclusion, we were able to collect blood samples from all alligators within 2 min of capture to establish preliminary reference ranges for juvenile alligators based on values obtained using fresh whole blood.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2025

Compression–tension cell with sample manipulator for in situ X‐ray nanotomography experiments

In situ X-ray nanotomography experiments where tensile or compressive force is applied on the sample require specialized equipment. A compression-tension device with fluid flow-through capability has been designed for X-ray nanotomography beamlines. The compression-tension cell is equipped with a triaxial stage for sample alignment and a high sensitivity loadcell for measurement of applied force. To handle the <100 µm samples used for X-ray nanotomography imaging and for loading samples on the compression-tension cell a sample manipulator has been built. The sample manipulator is capable of selecting a single <100 µm particle for nanotomography scanning while viewing multiple samples under an optical microscope. To test the functionality of these two devices an initial compression experiment involving two glass beads was performed. To demonstrate instrument stability two spherical glass beads were compressed from a no load condition until one of the beads fractured. Nanotomography data were collected at each step of increasing compressive force. The experimentally observed contact area of the spherical glass beads was compared with the theoretical estimate using the Hertz analysis. To demonstrate the fluid flow capability, two calcite grains were compressed against each other under a calcite saturated solution. Surface topological changes were observed for the stressed grain contact area.

X-ray tomography↗
DOE OSTI2023

A Sub-Electron-Noise Multi-Channel Cryogenic Skipper-CCD Readout ASIC

The MIDNA application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) is a skipper-CCD readout chip fabricated in a 65 nm LP-CMOS process that is capable of working at cryogenic temperatures. The chip integrates four front-end channels that process the skipper-CCD signal and performs differential averaging using a dual slope integration (DSI) circuit. Each readout channel contains a pre-amplifier, a DC restorer, and a dual-slope integrator with chopping capability. The integrator chopping is a key system design element in order to mitigate the effect of low-frequency noise produced by the integrator itself, and it is not often required with standard CCDs. Each channel consumes 4.5 mW of power, occupies 0.156 mm${^2}$ area and has an input referred noise of 2.7${\mu\nu}_{rms}$. It is demonstrated experimentally to achieve sub-electron noise when coupled with a skipper-CCD by means of averaging samples of each pixel. Here, sub-electron noise is shown in three different acquisition approaches. The signal range is 6000 electrons. The readout system achieves 0.2${e^{-}}$ RMS by averaging 1000 samples with MIDNA both at room temperature and at 180 Kelvin.

1/f noise↗
DOE OSTI2015

Advanced instrumentation and analysis methods for in-pile thermal and nuclear measurements: from out-of-pile studies to irradiation campaigns

Research and development on nuclear fuel behavior under irradiations and accelerated ageing of structure materials is a key issue for sustainable nuclear energy in order to meet specific needs by keeping the best level of safety. A new Material Testing Reactor (MTR), the Jules Horowitz Reactor (JHR) currently under construction in the South of France in the CEA Cadarache research centre will offer a real opportunity to perform R and D programs and hence will crucially contribute to the selection, optimization and qualification of innovative materials and fuels. To perform such programs advanced accurate and innovative experiments, irradiation devices that contain material and fuel samples are required to be set up inside or beside the reactor core. These experiments needs beforehand in situ and on line sophisticated measurements to accurately reach specific and determining parameters such as thermal and fast neutron fluxes, nuclear heating and temperature conditions to precisely monitor and control the conducted assays. Consequently, since 2009 CEA and Aix-Marseille University collaborate in order to design and develop a new multi-sensor device which will be dedicated to measuring profiles of such conditions inside the experimental channels of the JHR. These works are performed in the framework of two complementary joint research programs called MAHRI-BETHY and INCORE. These programs couple experimental studies carried out both out-of nuclear fluxes (in laboratory) and under irradiation conditions (in OSIRIS MTR reactor in France and MARIA MTR reactor in Poland) with numerical works realized by thermal simulations (CAST3M code) and Monte Carlo simulations (MCNP code). These programs deal with three main aims. The first one corresponds to the design and/or the test of new in-pile instrumentation. The second one concerns the development of advanced calibration procedures in particular in the case of one specific sensor: a differential calorimeter used to quantify nuclear heating. The last one consists in the development of accurate measurement and analysis methods. The paper will be dedicated to a complete review of the experimental and numerical works performed since 2009 thanks to two parts. The first part will detail a new thermal approach implemented to improve nuclear heating measurements by radiometric calorimeters. New experimental tools (calorimeter prototypes and set-ups such BETHY Bench) developed to perform preliminary out-of-pile studies under suitable conditions will be presented (temperature and velocity of the external cooling fluid, heat source localization and intensity inside the calorimetric cells). Then the response of two kinds of sensors, their calibrations curves and their thermal behaviors will be compared for various parameters. Finally validated numerical thermal and Monte Carlo works will be discussed to propose new improvements. The second parts of the paper will focus on works realized in order to design, develop and test the first prototype of the multi-sensor device called CARMEN [7-9]. The two mock-ups dedicated respectively to neutron measurements and photon measurements will be detailed. The results obtained during two irradiation campaigns inside the periphery of OSIRIS reactor will be shown. The new analysis method will be discussed. (authors)

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2015

Three dimensional imaging and analysis of a single nano-device at the ultimate scale using correlative microscopy techniques

The analysis of a same sample using nanometre or atomic-scale techniques is fundamental to fully understand device properties. This is especially true for the dopant distribution within last generation nano-transistors such as MOSFET or FINFETs. In this work, the spatial distribution of boron in a nano-transistor at the atomic scale has been investigated using a correlative approach combining electron and atom probe tomography. The distortions present in the reconstructed volume using atom probe tomography have been discussed by simulations of surface atoms using a cylindrical symmetry taking into account the evaporation fields. Electron tomography combined with correction of atomic density was used so that to correct image distortions observed in atom probe tomography reconstructions. These corrected atom probe tomography reconstructions then enable a detailed boron doping analysis of the device.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗