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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 271 records · Page 15

Lossless Quantum Hard-Drive Memory Using Parity-Time Symmetry

We theoretically studied the feasibility of building a long-term read-write quantum memory using the principle of parity-time (PT) symmetry, which has already been demonstrated for classical systems. The design consisted of a two-resonator system. Although both resonators would feature intrinsic loss, the goal was to apply a driving signal to one of the resonators such that it would become an amplifying subsystem, with a gain rate equal and opposite to the loss rate of the lossy resonator. Consequently, the loss and gain probabilities in the overall system would cancel out, yielding a closed quantum system. Upon performing detailed calculations on the impact of a driving signal on a lossy resonator, our results demonstrated that an amplifying resonator is physically unfeasible, thus forestalling the possibility of PT-symmetric quantum storage. Our finding serves to significantly narrow down future research into designing a viable quantum hard drive.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Nozzle Shocks, Disk Tearing, and Streamers Drive Rapid Accretion in 3D GRMHD Simulations of Warped Thin Disks

The angular momentum of gas feeding a black hole (BH) may be misaligned with respect to the BH spin, resulting in a tilted accretion disk. Rotation of the BH drags the surrounding spacetime, manifesting as Lense–Thirring torques that lead to disk precession and warping. We study these processes by simulating a thin (H/r = 0.02), highly tilted ($\tau$ = 65°) accretion disk around a rapidly rotating (a = 0.9375) BH at extremely high resolutions, which we performed using the general-relativistic magnetohydrodynamic code H-AMR. The disk becomes significantly warped and continuously tears into two individually precessing subdisks. We find that mass accretion rates far exceed the standard α-viscosity expectations. We identify two novel dissipation mechanisms specific to warped disks that are the main drivers of accretion, distinct from the local turbulent stresses that are usually thought to drive accretion. In particular, we identify extreme scale height oscillations that occur twice an orbit throughout our disk. When the scale height compresses, "nozzle" shocks form, dissipating orbital energy and driving accretion. Separate from this phenomenon, there is also extreme dissipation at the location of the tear. This leads to the formation of low-angular momentum "streamers" that rain down onto the inner subdisk, shocking it. The addition of low-angular momentum gas to the inner subdisk causes it to rapidly accrete, even when it is transiently aligned with the BH spin and thus unwarped. These mechanisms, if general, significantly modify the standard accretion paradigm. Additionally, they may drive structural changes on much shorter timescales than expected in α-disks, potentially explaining some of the extreme variability observed in active galactic nuclei.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Comparison of ablators for the polar direct drive exploding pusher platform

We examine the performance of pure boron, boron carbide, high density carbon, and boron nitride ablators in the polar direct drive exploding pusher (PDXP) platform. The platform uses the polar direct drive conguration at the National Ignition Facility to drive high ion temperatures in a room temperature capsule and has potential applications for plasma physics studies and as a neutron source. The higher tensile strength of these materials compared to plastic enables a thinner ablator to support higher gas pressures, which could help optimize its performance for plasma physics experiments, while ablators containing boron enable the possiblity of collecting addtional data to constrain models of the platform. Applying recently developed and experimentally validated equation of state models for the boron materials, we examine the performance of these materials as ablators in 2D simulations, with particular focus on changes to the ablator and gas areal density, as well as the predicted symmetry of the inherently 2D implosion.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Mitigation of mode-one asymmetry in laser-direct-drive inertial confinement fusion implosions

Nonuniformities present in the laser illumination and target in laser-driven inertial confinement fusion experiments lead to an asymmetric compression of the target, resulting in an inefficient conversion of shell kinetic energy to thermal energy of the hot-spot plasma. In this paper, the effects of asymmetric compression of cryogenic deuterium tritium laser-direct-drive implosions are examined using a suite of nuclear and x-ray diagnostics on the OMEGA laser. The neutron-averaged hot-spot velocity (~uhs) and apparent ion temperature (Ti) asymmetry are determined from neutron time-of-flight measurements of the primary deuterium tritium fusion neutron energy spectrum, while the areal density (rhoR) of the compressed fuel surrounding the hot spot is inferred from measurements of the scattered neutron energy spectrum. The low-mode perturbations of the hot-spot shape are characterized from x-ray self-emission images recorded along three quasi-orthogonal lines of sight. Implosions with significant mode-1 laser drive asymmetries show large hot-spot velocities (>100 km/s) in a direction consistent with the hot-spot elongation observed in x-ray images, measured Ti asymmetry, and rhoR asymmetry. Laser drive corrections have been applied through shifting the initial target location in order to mitigate the observed asymmetry. With the asymmetry corrected, a more-symmetric hot spot is observed with reduced ~uhs, Ti asymmetry, rhoR asymmetry, and a 30% increase in the fusion yield.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Impact of lithium wall conditioning and wave-frequency on high density lower hybrid current drive experiment on EAST

A series of dedicated lower hybrid current drive (LHCD) experiments on EAST shows that lithium wall conditioning extends LH current drive and heating up to the line-averaged density of n ̅_e≈ 4x1019 m-3 for both 2.45 and 4.6 GHz. Current drive at such a high density is crucial for the development of long-pulse non-inductive scenarios on EAST. With lithiation, the LH power injection of 1.5 MW at 2.45 GHz resulted in a drop of loop voltage of ~ 0.3 V, which is a comparable loop voltage drop observed with 1.1 MW at 4.6 GHz. The observed decrease in loop voltage is attributed mostly to the RF heating effect. Another LHCD experiment suggests that lithium wall coating has a more significant impact on the scrape-off-layer (SOL) properties than changes in the Greenwald fraction. LHCD at 2.45 GHz still suffers from a loss of efficiency. Enhanced power ionization in front of the launcher may cause the onset of density-dependent wave instabilities. The rise in the midplane SOL density may also accelerate a transition in the divertor regime, leading to additional ionization and collisional losses in the X-point divertor plasma. Ray-tracing modeling supports that a lower wave frequency is more prone to collisional power loss. The experiments confirm that lithiation is a useful tool to control the SOL plasma, and suggest that density control in front of the launcher may be critical to mitigating power loss mechanisms in the plasma boundary.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Investigations of LHW-plasma coupling and current drive at high density related to H-mode experiments in EAST

Two important issues in achieving lower hybrid current drive (LHCD) high confinement plasma in EAST are to improve lower hybrid wave (LHW)-plasma coupling and to drive the plasma current at a high density. Studies in different configurations with different directions of toroidal magnetic field (Bt) show that the density near the antenna is affected by both the radial electric field induced by plasma without a LHW (Er-plasma) in the scrape off layer (SOL), and the radial electric field induced by LHW power (Er-LH) near the grill. Investigations indicate that Er× Btin the SOL leads to a different effect of configuration on the LHW-plasma coupling and Er-LH× Btaccounts for the asymmetric density behaviour in the SOL observed in the experiments, where Eris the total radial electric field in the SOL. Modelling of parametric instability (PI), collisional absorption (CA) and scattering from density fluctuations (SDF) in the edge region, performed considering the parameters of high density LHCD experiments in EAST, has shown that these mechanisms could be responsible for the low current drive (CD) efficiency at high density. Radiofrequency probe spectra, useful for documenting PI occurrence, show sidebands whose amplitude in the case of the lithiated vacuum chamber is smaller than in the case of poor lithiation, consistently with growth rates from PI modeling of the respective reference discharges. Since strong lithiation is also expected to diminish the parasitic effect on the LHCD of the remaining possible mechanisms, this appears to be a useful method for improving LHCD efficiency at a high density.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

National direct-drive program on OMEGA and the National Ignition Facility

A major advantage of the laser direct-drive (DD) approach to ignition is the increased fraction of laser drive energy coupled to the hot spot and relaxed hot-spot requirements for the peak pressure and convergence ratios relative to the indirect-drive approach at equivalent laser energy. With the goal of a successful ignition demonstration using DD, the recently established national strategy has several elements and involves multiple national and international institutions. These elements include the experimental demonstration on OMEGA cryogenic implosions of hot-spot conditions relevant for ignition at MJ-scale energies available at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) and developing an understanding of laser-plasma interactions and laser coupling using DD experiments on the NIF. DD designs require reaching central stagnation pressures in excess of 100 Gbar. The current experiments on OMEGA have achieved inferred peak pressures of 56 Gbar (Regan et al 2016 Phys. Rev. Lett. 117 025001). Extensive analysis of the cryogenic target experiments and two- and three-dimensional simulations suggest that power balance, target offset, and target quality are the main limiting factors in target performance. In addition, cross-beam energy transfer (CBET) has been identified as the main mechanism reducing laser coupling. Reaching the goal of demonstrating hydrodynamic equivalence on OMEGA includes improving laser power balance, target position, and target quality at shot time. CBET must also be significantly reduced and several strategies have been identified to address this issue. (2016-01-01)

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Hydraulic drive system prevents backlash

Hydraulic drive system uses a second drive motor operating at reduced torque. This exerts a relative braking action which eliminates the normal gear train backlash that is intolerable when driving certain heavy loads.

Acord, J. D.↗

Simple motor drive system operates heavy hinged door

Motor drive system remotely operates heavy steel radiation shielding doors. The drive consists of a standard motor reducer unit which is mounted on the door. This reducer drives a sprocket which is linked by chain to a fixed sprocket of the same size on the door jamb.

Pitkin, R. G.↗

Design analysis for a nutating plate drive 4

A simplified design analysis was conducted on a nutating plate type drive system for a 2500 horsepower helicopter main rotor gear box. A drive system that split the output torque evenly between two nutating plates for the purpose of reducing the load on each nutating plate was analyzed. Needle bearings were used on the nutating plate pins. The results of the analysis indicate that the required load capacity of the pin bearings and the speed of the nutating plate bearings were beyond the state-of-the-art capacity of rolling-element bearings. The analysis further indicates that the nutating plate drive is less efficient, and results in a higher weight per horsepower than a conventional planetary helicopter transmission with similar design specifications.

Loewenthal, S. H.↗

Drive turbine system for 20-inch turbofan simulators. 2: Core turbine design

Drive-turbines for a given set of 20-inch turbo-fan simulators are described. The simulators had both single-stage and two-stage fans that had design pressure ratios as low as 1.25 and as high as 3.0. The desired objective of the study was to be able to drive all of the single-stage fans with one core turbine and to drive all of the two-stage fans with this same core turbine in combination with a duct turbine. The core turbine is described. Included are the design operating conditions, design velocity diagram and a power-speed envelope determined by an off-design performance procedure. Also discussed is the adaption and scaling of an existing turbine design to this particular application.

Whitney, W. J.↗

Basic principles of variable speed drives.

The basic available types of variable speed drive systems are described in terms of operating characteristics and typical applications. The fundamental factors of torque, speed ratio, and power are discussed as they relate to drive selection, and the use of a systems approach is urged in the choice and development of a variable speed drive train.

Loewenthal, S. H.↗

DC drive system for cine/pulse cameras

Camera-drive functions are separated mechanically into two groups which are driven by two separate dc brushless motors. First motor, a 90 deg stepper, drives rotating shutter; second electronically commutated motor drives claw and film transport. Shutter is made of one piece but has two openings for slow and fast exposures.

Gerlach, R. H.↗

Ion drive - A step toward 'Star Trek'

The design of a solar-powered electric propulsion system is seen as the first step in the ultimate development of an ion drive system which might incorporate many features of a spacecraft propulsion system described in a science fiction novel written by Anderson (1970). The considered ion propulsion systems would make it possible to augment significantly the operational capabilities of space transportation systems utilizing the Shuttle orbiter in combination with a solid-propellant interim upper stage. The use of the ion drive in a number of applications is discussed, giving attention to the resulting enhancement of national space capabilities, the role of the ion drive in the space transportation system, the development and the operation of a manned space station, satellite positioning and service, the elimination of space debris objects, the study of Halley's comet, interplanetary or lunar shuttle services, and space missions involving the outer planets.

Atkins, K. L.↗

The driving force for magnetospheric convection

Viscously driven magnetospheric models, as well as a model involving interconnection between the geomagnetic field and the magnetic field in the solar wind, have been proposed to describe the driving force for magnetospheric convection. Lack of a satisfactory theory for the interconnection in the latter model and, in the case of the viscous interaction models, inadequacies in predicting the quantity of the driving force, make these two classes of models less than successful. Accordingly, a mechanically driven magnetospheric model is proposed: solar wind plasma enters the magnetosphere around the neutral points, covers the inner surface of the magnetopause and subsequently expands, driving convection as it escapes from the open tail.

Johnson, F. S.↗

Development of drive mechanisms for communicaton satellites

A distinguished pedigree is an important asset in the development of Aerospace mechanisms. Four drives recently developed for communication satellites are outgrowths of a previously-proven drive configuration. Pedigree by itself, however is not enough to generate success. Inevitably, design changes which are thought to be minor, are generally introduced to fine tune the pedigreed hardware to meet particular requirements of a specific new application. Such design changes are often viewed too casually and are not thoroughly tested in the early development stages of the program. Two areas of design change are described on the solar array drive applied to the Japanese Broadcast Satellite which led to subsequent problems during the development phase of the program. The methods applied to establish the cause and the solution of these problems are described as well as the testing approach adapted to prevent similar occurrences on the current Communication Satellite Program, The Defense System Communications Satellite III.

Schneider, A. C.↗

High-performance, multiroller traction drive

Fixed-speed-ratio traction drive (NASVYTRAC) has been developed that can transmit high power across large speed ratio using compact cluster of rollers. Traction drive transmits power without gear teeth, through shear forces on thin lubricant film that separates drive rollers. Automatic loading mechanism regulates normal load between rollers so sufficient normal load is present to transmit required torque without slip or overloading.

Lowenthal, S.↗

Economical drive for large tube mills by means of planetary gears

The performance of heavy-duty planetary gear drives for ball mills used in the cement industry since 1967 is described. These gear drives transmit up to 8500 HP per installation. A reliable method for establishing gear drive efficiency is described and possible savings due to higher efficiency are indicated.

Ackle, W.↗