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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

High-Brightness Continuous-Wave Electron Beams from Superconducting Radio-Frequency Photoemission Gun

Continuous-wave photoinjectors operating at high accelerating gradients promise to revolutionize many areas of science and applications. They can establish the basis for a new generation of monochromatic x-ray free electron lasers, high-brightness hadron beams, or a new generation of microchip production. In this Letter we report on the record-performing superconducting rf electron gun with CsK 2 Sb photocathode. The gun is generating high charge electron bunches (up to 10 nC / bunch ) and low transverse emittances, while operating for months with a single photocathode. As such, this achievement opens a new era in generating high-power beams with a very high average brightness.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Thermal Imaging for Assessment of Electron-Beam Free Form Fabrication (EBF(sup 3)) Additive Manufacturing Welds

Additive manufacturing is a rapidly growing field where 3-dimensional parts can be produced layer by layer. NASA s electron beam free-form fabrication (EBF(sup 3)) technology is being evaluated to manufacture metallic parts in a space environment. The benefits of EBF(sup 3) technology are weight savings to support space missions, rapid prototyping in a zero gravity environment, and improved vehicle readiness. The EBF(sup 3) system is composed of 3 main components: electron beam gun, multi-axis position system, and metallic wire feeder. The electron beam is used to melt the wire and the multi-axis positioning system is used to build the part layer by layer. To insure a quality weld, a near infrared (NIR) camera is used to image the melt pool and solidification areas. This paper describes the calibration and application of a NIR camera for temperature measurement. In addition, image processing techniques are presented for weld assessment metrics.

Zalameda, Joseph N.↗

Fabrication of nanometer single crystal metallic CoSi2 structures on Si

Amorphous Co:Si (1:2 ratio) films are electron gun-evaporated on clean Si(111), such as in a molecular beam epitaxy system. These layers are then crystallized selectively with a focused electron beam to form very small crystalline Co/Si2 regions in an amorphous matrix. Finally, the amorphous regions are etched away selectively using plasma or chemical techniques.

Nieh, Kai-Wei↗

Incoherent Thomson scattering system for PHAse space MApping (PHASMA) experiment

A new incoherent Thomson scattering system measures the evolution of electron velocity distribution functions perpendicular and parallel to the ambient magnetic field during kinking of a single flux rope and merging of two flux ropes through magnetic reconnection. The Thom-son scattering system provides sub-millimeter spatial resolution, sufficient to diagnose the several millimeters sized magnetic reconnection electron diffusion region in the PHAse Space MAppgin experiment. Due to the relatively modest plasma density ~ 10 19 m -3 and electron tem-perature ~1 eV, stray light suppression is critical for these measurements. Two volume Bragg gratings are used in series as a notch filter with a spectral bandwidth <0.1 nm in the collection branch. A CCD with a Gen III intensifier with peak quantum efficiency >47% is used as the detector in a 1.3 m spectrometer. Preliminary results of gun plasma electron temperature will be reported and compared with measurements obtained from a triple Langmuir probe.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

High efficiency compact microwave sources using electrostatic potential depression

In this article, we report theoretical and design studies on the application of an electrostatic potential depression (EPD) on two types of traditional microwave sources, the klystron and the inductive output tube (IOT), both operating in the UHF band. Additionally, the EPD is implemented by a section of the metallic beam pipe on which a direct current (dc) negative high voltage is applied. Inside the EPD section, the modulated electron beam develops into bunches over a very short longitudinal distance, indicating a possible design approach for a compact device. With the application of an EPD, the peak value of the first harmonic current in a microwave tube can be further increased compared to that in a conventional design, suggesting higher circuit efficiency. As the electron beam leaves the EPD section, the reacceleration of the beam provides a longitudinal cooling effect. With the addition of an EPD, circuit power extraction efficiency above 80% is achieved in both the modified design of the IOT and the novel conceptual circuit design of the klystron.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Design Considerations for Compact High-Average Power Free-Electron Lasers/Masers at Terahertz Frequencies

Interest is increasing in high-power terahertz (THz) sources of radiation. The terminology is fluid, but researchers in the field typically refer to frequencies ranging from about 300 GHz to 10 THz as THz radiation. In this article, we present a description of design considerations for a compact, high-average power free-electron laser. At present, THz radiation is generated by a variety of mechanisms, including laser-based sources and electron-beam-based sources. Here, we provide a short description of current THz source technology to give background against which to compare the present concept; however, this should not be considered a comprehensive discussion of such technologies.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Numerical simulation of spacecraft charging phenomena

A numerical simulation program is being constructed having the following features: (1) infinite circular cylindrical geometry with angle-dependence, (2) inclusion of incident particles, photoelectrons, secondary electrons, backscattered electrons, any gun emissions, and any internal current pathways including surface conductive layers, (3) quasistatic time-dependent iteration, in which sheath potential changes during particle transit times are ignored, (4) use of approximate, locally-dependent space charge density expressions in solving Poisson's equation for sheath potentials, with use of numerical orbit-following to determine surface currents, and (5) incident particle velocity distributions isotropic or beam-like, or some superposition of these. Rationales for each of these features are discussed.

Laframboise, J. G.↗

Limiting current in electron-beam welders

Damage to workpiece by excessive current in electron-beam welder is prevented by mechanism that accurately adjusts anode-to-cathode spacing. Mechanism is installed on standard Sciaky (or equivalent) electron-beam gun with only minimal modification. By turning knurled knob and observing digital readout of anode/cathode separation, machine operator adjusts welder for safe maximum current before welding begins.

Spiegel, K. W.↗

A New Kind of Curing

A new curing method using automated tape placement (ATP) with electron beam (EB), or e-beam, produces a combination known as in situ e-beam curing. Through a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract from NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center, Science Research Laboratory, Inc., created the in situ e-beam curing technique, which uses a low-energy electron beam gun to cure various composite materials. One important benefit is the technique's utilization of room temperature curing, which lessens the chance of mismatching the thermal expansion coefficients of different materials. For instance, metals and composites will expand at different rates when heated, but the low-energy e-beam gun reduces the expansion differential. Using a low-energy gun also results in less x-ray shielding, significantly reduced capital costs, reduced facility space, and increased processing capabilities for larger parts. However, using a low-energy gun also means that each tape layer is treated individually because the gun can penetrate only one layer at a time. The e-beam gun emits lower energy x-rays, which are more easily shielded than those emitted by previous guns. The low-energy system is relatively portable due to its light weight and small size. The gun weighs about 70 pounds and can be easily mounted on a robotic arm or an ATP head.

Source record↗

Instrumentation for Studies of Electron Emission and Charging From Insulators

Making measurements of electron emission properties of insulators is difficult since insulators can charge either negatively or positively under charge particle bombardment. In addition, high incident energies or high fluences can result in modification of a material s conductivity, bulk and surface charge profile, structural makeup through bond breaking and defect creation, and emission properties. We discuss here some of the charging difficulties associated with making insulator-yield measurements and review the methods used in previous studies of electron emission from insulators. We present work undertaken by our group to make consistent and accurate measurements of the electron/ion yield properties for numerous thin-film and thick insulator materials using innovative instrumentation and techniques. We also summarize some of the necessary instrumentation developed for this purpose including fast response, low-noise, high-sensitivity ammeters; signal isolation and interface to standard computer data acquisition apparatus using opto-isolation, sample-and-hold, and boxcar integration techniques; computer control, automation and timing using Labview software; a multiple sample carousel; a pulsed, compact, low-energy, charge neutralization electron flood gun; and pulsed visible and UV light neutralization sources. This work is supported through funding from the NASA Space Environments and Effects Program and the NASA Graduate Research Fellowship Program.

Thomson, C. D.↗

Evolution and Control of 2219 Aluminum Microstructural Features Through Electron Beam Freeform Fabrication

The layer-additive nature of the electron beam freeform fabrication (EBF3) process results in a tortuous thermal path producing complex microstructures including: small homogeneous equiaxed grains; dendritic growth contained within larger grains; and/or pervasive dendritic formation in the interpass regions of the deposits. Several process control variables contribute to the formation of these different microstructures, including translation speed, wire feed rate, beam current and accelerating voltage. In electron beam processing, higher accelerating voltages embed the energy deeper below the surface of the substrate. Two EBF3 systems have been established at NASA Langley, one with a low-voltage (10-30kV) and the other a high-voltage (30-60 kV) electron beam gun. Aluminum alloy 2219 was processed over a range of different variables to explore the design space and correlate the resultant microstructures with the processing parameters. This report is specifically exploring the impact of accelerating voltage. Of particular interest is correlating energy to the resultant material characteristics to determine the potential of achieving microstructural control through precise management of the heat flux and cooling rates during deposition.

Taminger, Karen M.↗

Evolution and Control of 2219 Aluminum Microstructural Features through Electron Beam Freeform Fabrication

Electron beam freeform fabrication (EBF3) is a new layer-additive process that has been developed for near-net shape fabrication of complex structures. EBF3 uses an electron beam to create a molten pool on the surface of a substrate. Wire is fed into the molten pool and the part translated with respect to the beam to build up a 3-dimensional structure one layer at a time. Unlike many other freeform fabrication processes, the energy coupling of the electron beam is extremely well suited to processing of aluminum alloys. The layer-additive nature of the EBF3 process results in a tortuous thermal path producing complex microstructures including: small homogeneous equiaxed grains; dendritic growth contained within larger grains; and/or pervasive dendritic formation in the interpass regions of the deposits. Several process control variables contribute to the formation of these different microstructures, including translation speed, wire feed rate, beam current and accelerating voltage. In electron beam processing, higher accelerating voltages embed the energy deeper below the surface of the substrate. Two EBF3 systems have been established at NASA Langley, one with a low-voltage (10-30kV) and the other a high-voltage (30-60 kV) electron beam gun. Aluminum alloy 2219 was processed over a range of different variables to explore the design space and correlate the resultant microstructures with the processing parameters. This report is specifically exploring the impact of accelerating voltage. Of particular interest is correlating energy to the resultant material characteristics to determine the potential of achieving microstructural control through precise management of the heat flux and cooling rates during deposition.

Taminger, Karen M.↗