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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 307 records · Page 17
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2014

A hollow cathode ion source for production of primary ions for the BNL electron beam ion source

A hollow cathode ion source, based on one developed at Saclay, has been modified significantly and used for several years to produce all primary 1+ ions injected into the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider Electron Beam Ion Source (EBIS) at Brookhaven. Currents of tens to hundreds of microamperes have been produced for 1+ ions of He, C, O, Ne, Si, Ar, Ti, Fe, Cu, Kr, Xe, Ta, Au, and U. The source is very simple, relying on a glow discharge using a noble gas, between anode and a solid cathode containing the desired species. Ions of both the working gas and ionized sputtered cathode material are extracted, and then the desired species is selected using an ExB filter before being transported into the EBIS trap for charge breeding. The source operates pulsed with long life and excellent stability for most species. Reliable ignition of the discharge at low gas pressure is facilitated by the use of capacitive coupling from a simple toy plasma globe. The source design, and operating experience for the various species, is presented.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2018

Effect of Deep Centers on Charge-Carrier Confinement in InGaN/GaN Quantum Wells and on LED Efficiency

The deep-center-assisted tunneling of carriers in p–n structures of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with InGaN/GaN quantum wells (QWs) makes smaller the effective height of the injection barrier, but leads to a dependence of the radiation efficiency on the density and energy spectrum of defects in GaN. In the case of hopping conduction across the space charge region, the forward voltage mainly drops near the QW boundary, where the density of deep states at the quasi Fermi-level is the lowest. As a result, band bending at the boundary decreases, and, with increasing current, the direction of the electric field also changes, which leads to a weaker confinement of holes, to their non-radiative recombination in the n barrier, and to an efficiency droop. The low efficiency of green GaN LEDs is associated with the dominance of deep centers and insufficient density of shallow centers in the energy spectrum of defects in barrier layers near the boundaries with the QW. The proposed model is confirmed by the stepwise experimental dependences of the current, capacitance and efficiency of green and blue LEDs in the case of forward bias, which reflect the contribution of color centers responsible for the defect photoluminescence bands in GaN.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2020

Magnetic field dependence of low-energy magnons, anisotropic heat conduction, and spontaneous relaxation of magnetic domains in the cubic helimagnet ZnCr 2 Se 4

Here, anisotropic low-temperature properties of the cubic spinel helimagnet ZnCr 2 Se 4 in the single-domain spin-spiral state are investigated by a combination of neutron scattering, thermal conductivity, ultrasound velocity, and dilatometry measurements. In an applied magnetic field, neutron spectroscopy shows a complex and nonmonotonic evolution of the spin-wave spectrum across the quantum-critical point that separates the spin-spiral phase from the field-polarized ferromagnetic phase at high fields. A tiny spin gap of the pseudo-Goldstone magnon mode, observed at wave vectors that are structurally equivalent but orthogonal to the propagation vector of the spin helix, vanishes at this quantum critical point, restoring the cubic symmetry in the magnetic subsystem. The anisotropy imposed by the spin helix has only a minor influence on the lattice structure and sound velocity but has a much stronger effect on the heat conductivities measured parallel and perpendicular to the magnetic propagation vector. The thermal transport is anisotropic at T≲ 2K, highly sensitive to an external magnetic field, and likely results directly from magnonic heat conduction. We also report long-time thermal relaxation phenomena, revealed by capacitive dilatometry, which are due to magnetic domain motion related to the destruction of the single-domain magnetic state, initially stabilized in the sample by the application and removal of magnetic field. Our results can be generalized to a broad class of helimagnetic materials in which a discrete lattice symmetry is spontaneously broken by the magnetic order.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

The Polarity of Co-solvents Regulates the Charge Storage Mechanisms in Supercapacitors with Concentrated Electrolytes

Developing better energy storage devices depends on comprehending the underlying mechanisms involved in charge storage. With the continuous conception of new electrolytes, this task becomes progressively more urgent and complex. An example is the utilization of co-solvated concentrated solutions. While these show promising electrochemical responses, their dynamic properties (especially under confinement) and their relationships with performance are not fully understood. Here, we combined modified step potential electrochemical spectroscopy and quasielastic neutron scattering to investigate systems composed of activated mesoporous carbon (AMC) and concentrated solutions of lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide in acetonitrile co-solvated with either toluene or acetone. Further, we report that acetone does not impair surface-controlled mechanisms, contrary to the case with toluene, which competes with charged species to populate the AMC’s pores without contributing to charge storage. In turn, toluene promotes a greater overall capacitance owing to Faradaic processes, which may be related to changes in the solvation structures under confinement.

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

Organic electrochemical transistors for cell-based impedance sensing

Electrical impedance sensing of biological systems, especially cultured epithelial cell layers, is now a common technique to monitor cell motion, morphology, and cell layer/tissue integrity for high throughput toxicology screening. Existing methods to measure electrical impedance most often rely on a two electrode configuration, where low frequency signals are challenging to obtain for small devices and for tissues with high resistance, due to low current. Organic electrochemical transistors (OECTs) are conducting polymer-based devices, which have been shown to efficiently transduce and amplify low-level ionic fluxes in biological systems into electronic output signals. In this work, we combine OECT-based drain current measurements with simultaneous measurement of more traditional impedance sensing using the gate current to produce complex impedance traces, which show low error at both low and high frequencies. We apply this technique in vitro to a model epithelial tissue layer and show that the data can be fit to an equivalent circuit model yielding trans-epithelial resistance and cell layer capacitance values in agreement with literature. Importantly, the combined measurement allows for low biases across the cell layer, while still maintaining good broadband signal.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2016

Integrated acoustic phase separator and multiphase fluid composition monitoring apparatus and method

An apparatus and method for down hole gas separation from the multiphase fluid flowing in a wellbore or a pipe, for determining the quantities of the individual components of the liquid and the flow rate of the liquid, and for remixing the component parts of the fluid after which the gas volume may be measured, without affecting the flow stream, are described. Acoustic radiation force is employed to separate gas from the liquid, thereby permitting measurements to be separately made for these two components; the liquid (oil/water) composition is determined from ultrasonic resonances; and the gas volume is determined from capacitance measurements. Since the fluid flows around and through the component parts of the apparatus, there is little pressure difference, and no protection is required from high pressure differentials.

42 ENGINEERING↗
NASA NTRS2024

Dual-Resonator Kinetic-Inductance Detector for Distinction between Signal and 1/ƒ Frequency Noise

Astronomical kinetic inductance detectors (KIDs), similar to quantum information devices, experience performance-limiting noise from materials. In particular, 1/ƒ (frequency) noise arises from two-level system defects (TLSs) in the circuit dielectrics and material interfaces and can be a dominant noise mechanism. Here, we present a dual-resonator KID (DuRKID), which is designed for improved noise-equivalent power relative to standard 1/ƒ -noise-limited KIDs. In this study we present the DuRKID schematic, a fabricated example, our first measurement results, a theoretical model including 1/ƒ noise, and a system-noise model containing additional noise sources. The circuit consists of two superconducting resonators sharing an electrical capacitance bridge of four capacitors, each of which hosts TLSs. The device is intended to operate using hybridization of the modes, which causes TLSs to either couple to one mode or the other, depending upon which capacitor they reside in. In contrast, the signal will affect a resonator inductance and, due to mode hybridization, this causes correlated frequency changes in both modes. Therefore, one can better distinguish the photon signal from the TLS frequency noise. To achieve hybridization, a TiN inductor is current biased to allow tuning of one bare-resonator mode into degeneracy with the other. Measurements show that the resonator modes hybridize as expected. The inter-resonator coupling and unintentional coupling of the two resonators to transmission lines are also characterized in measurements. A quantum information-science model allows device-parameter extraction from experimental data and a 1/ƒ noise analysis with uncorrelated noise. A system-noise analysis of the DuRKID, with comparisons to standard KIDs, is performed with generation-recombination noise and amplifier noise. The study reveals that the DuRKID can exhibit a large performance advantage over TLS-limited KID detectors.

N Forouzani↗
DOE OSTI2016

Ferromagnetic and multiferroic interfaces in granular perovskite composite xLa{sub 0.5}Sr{sub 0.5}CoO{sub 3}-(1−x)BiFeO{sub 3}

Nanopowder of ferromagnetic La{sub 0.5}Sr{sub 0.5}CoO{sub 3} (LSCO) and multiferroic BiFeO{sub 3} (BFO) were synthesized by spray pyrolysis method. Different compositions of multiferroic xLSCO-(1−x)BFO composites were synthesized at 800 °C for 2 h. Scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy elemental mapping were performed to study the morphology of composites. Ferri/ferromagnetic responses above T{sub C} (LSCO) are observed, which are associated with the interfaces LSCO/BFO. This interface presents a different behavior compared to the original perovskites, and the magnitude of the magnetization depends on x. Electrical DC conductivity as a function of temperature for LSCO nanopowder (x = 1) presents a different behavior than that reported in bulk material. For x = 1 and 0.9, the model by Glazman and Matveev [Zh. Eksp. Teor. Fiz. 94, 332 (1988)] is proposed to describe the electrical conductivity. On the other hand, x = 0, 0.1, and 0.5 present a variable range hopping behavior. Complex impedance spectroscopy as a function of frequency indicates a pure resistive behavior for x ≥ 0.5 compositions, while a complex resistive-capacitive behavior is observed for low x values (0, 0.1). In these samples, low values of magnetoelectric coupling were measured with an AC lock-in technique.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2018

A new B-dot probe circuit for magnetic diagnostics of radio frequency discharges

Accurate magnetic measurements in radio frequency capacitively coupled plasmas (CCP) are challenging due to the presence of inherently strong electric fields and relatively weak magnetic fields. In this work, a new B-dot probe circuit is presented, comprising two variable capacitors in a tunable series resonance circuit, with a center-tapped, step-up transformer. The output characteristics of the probe are predicted using two distinct equivalent circuit models, one for the differential mode and the other for the common mode. A Helmholtz coil and a Faraday cup are used for experimental validation of the predicted probe output. By tuning the two variable capacitors in the circuit, the magnetic probe can achieve improved signal-to-noise ratio by amplifying the inductive signal, while suppressing capacitive coupling interference. Finally, using the newly designed probe, magnetic measurements in typical CCP are presented.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2018

Operation Mechanism of Perovskite Quantum Dot Solar Cells Probed by Impedance Spectroscopy

We fabricated perovskite quantum dot solar cells (PQDSCs) and varied the thickness of the QD layer by controlling the number of deposition cycles; the cells were systematically investigated with impedance spectroscopy. Despite the evident structural differences with respect to standard perovskite solar cells (PSCs), similar impedance spectra were obtained for PQDSCs, pointing to similar working principles in terms of the active layer. We distinguish two different regimes: At low illumination, recombination is ruled by multiple trapping with trap distributions and/or shunting. However, at higher light intensities, Shockley-Read-Hall recombination is observed. In addition, the low-frequency capacitance, CLF, of PQDSCs increases several orders of magnitude when the illumination is varied from dark to 1-sun conditions. This feature has not been observed in other kinds of photovoltaic devices and is characteristic of PSCs. Although there is no consensus about the exact mechanism responsible for CLF, the suggested models point to an ion migration origin. Its observation in thin-film and PQDSCs devices implies a similar effect in both.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2015

Determination of the dissipation in superconducting Josephson junctions

The results relative to macroscopic quantum tunneling rate, out of the metastable state of Josephson junctions, are examined in view of determining the effect of dissipation. We adopt a simple criterion in accordance to which the effect of dissipation can be evaluated by analyzing the shortening of the semiclassical traversal time of the barrier. In almost all the considered cases, especially those with relatively large capacitance values, the relative time shortening turns out to be about 20% and with a corresponding quality factor Q ≃ 5.5. However, beyond the specific cases here considered, still in the regime of moderate dissipation, the method is applicable also to different situations with different values of the quality factor. The method allows, within the error limits, for a reliable determination of the load resistance R{sub L}, the less accessible quantity in the framework of the resistively and capacitively shunted junction model, provided that the characteristics of the junction (intrinsic capacitance, critical current, and the ratio of the bias current to the critical one) are known with sufficient accuracy.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2016

Varactor with integrated micro-discharge source

An apparatus that includes a varactor element and an integrated micro-discharge source is disclosed herein. In a general embodiment, the apparatus includes at least one np junction and at least one voltage source that is configured to apply voltage across the np junction. The apparatus further includes an aperture that extends through the np junction. When the voltage is applied across the np junction, gas in the aperture is ionized, forming a plasma, in turn causing a micro-discharge (of light, charge particles, and space charge) to occur. The light (charge particles, and space charge) impinges upon the surface of the np junction exposed in the aperture, thereby altering capacitance of the np junction. When used within an oscillator circuit, the effect of the plasma on the np-junction extends the capacitance changes of the np-junction and extends the oscillator frequency range in ways not possible by a conventional voltage controlled oscillator (VCO).

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2025

Monolithic optoelectronic circuit design for on-chip terahertz applications

We demonstrate a monolithic coplanar stripline platform for on-chip terahertz (THz) generation, transmission, and detection, addressing key challenges of mode purity, bandwidth, and referencing. Capacitive coupling of the photoconductive generator switch enforces pure odd-mode propagation, increases THz field strength, and extends the operational frequency range, achieving 0.05–1.4 THz. Our architecture enables fully monolithic fabrication with amorphous silicon switches, in situ field referencing, and galvanic isolation between generation and detection. Finite-element simulations and experiments confirm that suppressing parasitic modes improves signal integrity, providing a robust platform for high-fidelity THz spectroscopy, ultrafast electronics, and nanoscale quantum materials research.

Capacitive coupling↗
DOE OSTI2020

Surface Charge and Electrostatic Spin Crossover Effects in CoN 4 Electrocatalysts

Carbon materials doped with nitrogen and 3d transition metals have attracted a great deal of interest for catalyzing electrochemical reactions such as water splitting, oxygen reduction, and carbon dioxide reduction. Here, we employed density functional theory to study Co–N-doped carbon as electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction and oxygen evolution reactions. Specifically, we investigated the interplay among adsorption energies, the spin state of the CoN 4 active center, and the applied potential. We found that adsorption energies strongly depend on both the applied potential and the spin state of the Co center. Furthermore, spin state transitions induced by the applied potential also play an important role in determining the adsorption energies. Here, this effect originates from a different potential of zero charge and capacitance of each spin state.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
NASA NTRS1985

New quantum oscillations in current driven small junctions

The response of current-biased Josephson and normal tunnel junctions (JJs and NTJs) such as those fabricated by Voss and Webb (1981) is predicted from a quantum-mechanical description based on the observation that the response of a current-driven open system is equivalent to that of a closed system subject to an external time-dependent voltage bias. Phenomena expected include voltage oscillations with no dc voltage applied, inverse Shapiro steps of dc voltage in the presence of microwave radiation, voltage oscillation in a JJ and an NTJ coupled by a capacitance to a current-biased junction, JJ voltage oscillation frequency = I/e rather than I/2e, and different NTJ resistance than in the voltage-driven case. The effects require approximate experimental parameter values Ic = 15 nA, C = 1 fF, and T much less than 0.4 K for JJs and Ic = a few nA, C = 1 fF, and R = 3 kiloohms for 100-microV inverse Shapiro steps at 10 GHz in NTJs.

Ben-Jacob, E.↗
DOE OSTI2021

Melting phase diagram of bubble phases in high Landau levels

A low-disorder, two-dimensional electron system (2DES) subjected to a large perpendicular magnetic field and cooled to very low temperatures provides a rich platform for studies of many-body quantum phases. The magnetic field quenches the electrons' kinetic energy and quantizes the energy into a set of Landau levels, allowing the Coulomb interaction to dominate. In excited Landau levels, the fine interplay between short- and long-range interactions stabilizes bubble phases, Wigner crystals with more than one electron per unit cell. In this work, we present the screening properties of bubble phases, probed via a simple capacitance technique where the 2DES is placed between a top and a bottom gate and the electric field penetrating through the 2DES is measured. The bubbles formed at very low temperatures screen the electric field poorly as they are pinned by the residual disorder potential, allowing a large electric field to reach the top gate. As the temperature is increased, the penetrating electric field decreases and, surprisingly, exhibits a pronounced minimum at a temperature that appears to coincide with the melting temperature of the bubble phase. We deduce a quantitative phase diagram, as a function of Landau level filling factor (ν) and temperature, for the transition from the bubble to liquid phases for 4 ≤ ν ≤ 5.

2-dimensional systems↗
DOE OSTI2024

Evidence for ionization damage in mid-wave infrared nBn detectors

The effects of 63 MeV proton and 60Co gamma irradiation on the operation of 4.3 μm cutoff nBn photodetectors are demonstrated separately, and both are shown to yield a total ionizing dose (TID) effect. The effect is shown here in an InAsSbBi nBn detector and has been observed in other bulk alloy nBn detectors, and is unusual as it is notably absent in superlattice nBn detectors. The non-antireflection coated detectors exhibit a pre-radiation quantum efficiency of 17% at 3.3 μm wavelength and a dark current density of 50 μA/cm2, or roughly 300× the Rule 07 expectation, at their ideal operating voltage of −0.4 V bias at 150 K. Step-wise proton irradiation and in situ measurement indicate that the dark current increases to about 400× Rule 07 at the highest proton dose level of 150 krad(Si) (9.10 × 1011 p+/cm2), while the quantum efficiency is degraded at a relatively faster rate than the majority of analogous detectors characterized by our lab. Both the photocurrent and dark current are also shown to exhibit a turn-on voltage magnitude reduction of 100 mV following either gamma or proton irradiation, a trend which is attributable to negative trapped charge at the barrier interface (TID effect). This theory is further supported by an observed capacitance density magnitude reduction with dose and affirmed with Silvaco TCAD simulations. Following both proton exposure and subsequent anneal and gamma exposure and subsequent anneal; dark current, photocurrent, and CV all approach their pre-radiation baseline values.

Physics↗