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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 325 records · Page 18
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2018

Design and characterization of the SPT-3G receiver (Conference Presentation)

(On behalf of the SPT-3G collaboration)The SPT-3G receiver was commissioned in early 2017 on the 10-meter South Pole Telescope (SPT) to map the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) with arcminute resolution. The new instrument significantly improves on previous SPT camera designs, offering unprecedented sensitivity to the CMB’s temperature and polarization anisotropies while maintaining a tight control on systematic effects.A restructured optics chain features new secondary and tertiary mirrors to increase the receiver’s field of view by a factor of four in area, coupling light through a set of four cryogenic 720 mm alumina elements, which re-image the Gregorian focus inside the receiver. The broad-band (70-270 GHz) anti-reflective coated lenses are paired with a Lyot stop and cooled to 4 K using a dedicated two-stage pulse-tube cooler (PTC) to minimize in-band attenuation, internal radiative loading, and stray light on the considerably larger focal plane, which is populated with ~2,700 diffraction-limited pixels.Each independent pixel incorporates a lenslet-coupled broadband sinuous antenna, which routes signals through superconducting transmission lines and in-line band-defining filters to six transition-edge sensors, each measuring one of three bands (90, 150, and 220 GHz) and two polarizations, yielding a total of ~16,000 bolometers distributed across ten 150 mm monolithic wafers on a 430 mm image plane. A robust mechanical and thermal architecture supports and cools all detectors across this sizable focal plane to ~250 mK using a closed-cycle Helium adsorption refrigerator backed by a PTC, allowing a duty cycle greater than 90%.This order of magnitude increase in detector count relies on an improved digital frequency-domain SQUID readout system which integrates superconducting inductor-capacitor resonators wired in series with each bolometer to achieve a 68x multiplexing factor while mitigating noise and crosstalk effects.Cumulatively, SPT-3G’s new optics, detector, and readout strategies boast a potential factor of ~20 improvement in mapping speed over its predecessor, SPT-Pol, offering the potential to improve our understanding of inflationary physics, astroparticle physics, and growth of structure. We summarize the new receiver’s core design principles, outline technology characterization results, and report on plans for future upgrades.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2024

Development and characterization of the flight model spectrometer onboard LuSEE-Night

The Lunar Surface Electromagnetics Experiment - Night, LuSEE-Night, is a low-frequency radio astronomy experiment that will explore the cosmic Dark Ages signal on the radio-quiet far side of the Moon. Here, the LuSEE-Night carries a radio frequency spectrometer consisting of a set of antennas, analog and digital processing electronics, and will be launched by NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services in 2025. The spectrometer is designed to observe the spectrum of the radio sky in the 0.5-50MHz band. The flight model (FM) of the four-channel spectrometer has been developed. The FM has been characterized for linearity, gain, noise, and their temperature dependence, confirming that the FM meets all the requirements for LuSEE-Night.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2021

Spatiotemporal characterization of the field-induced insulator-to-metal transition

Watching a metal filament grow Resistive switching is a process in which the electrical resistance of a sample changes abruptly in response to a voltage pulse, often by orders of magnitude. This process is at the heart of many neuromorphic computing approaches but visualizing it in both space and time is tricky. del Valle et al . monitored the resistive switching in three different vanadium oxide compounds by measuring time- and space-resolved optical reflectivity (see the Perspective by Hilgenkamp and Gao). A characteristic conducting filament was quickly nucleated on the inhomogeneities in the sample and then propagated due to Joule heating. —JS

Science & Technology - Other Topics↗
DOE OSTI2014

Crystallized Silicon Nanostructures - Experimental Characterization and Atomistic Simulations

We have synthesized silicon nanocrystalline structures from thermal annealing of thin film amorphous silicon-based multilayers. The annealing procedure that was carried out in vacuum at temperatures up to 1100 °C is integrated in a X-ray diffraction (XRD) setup for real-time monitoring of the formation phases of the nanostructures. The microstructure of the crystallized films is investigated through experimental measurements combined with atomistic simulations of realistic nanocrystalline silicon (nc-Si) models. The multilayers consisting of uniformly alternating thicknesses of hydrogenated amorphous silicon and silicon oxide (SiO2) were deposited by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition on crystalline silicon and Corning glass substrates. The crystallized structure consisting of nc-Si structures embedded in an amorphous matrix were further characterized through XRD, Raman spectroscopy, and Fourier transform infrared measurements. We are able to show the different stages of nanostructure formation and how the sizes and the crystallized mass fraction can be controlled in our experimental synthesis. The crystallized silicon structures with large crystalline filling fractions exceeding 50% have been simulated with a robust classical molecular dynamics technique. The crystalline filling fractions and structural order of nc-Si obtained from this simulation are compared with our Raman and XRD measurements.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2021

Structural and Kinetic Characterization of Hyperthermophilic NADH-Dependent Persulfide Reductase from Archaeoglobus fulgidus

NADH-dependent persulfide reductase (Npsr) has been proposed to facilitate dissimilatory sulfur respiration by reducing persulfide or sulfane sulfur-containing substrates to H2S. The presence of this gene in the sulfate and thiosulfate-reducing Archaeoglobus fulgidus DSM 4304 and other hyperthermophilic Archaeoglobales appears anomalous, as A. fulgidus is unable to respire S0 and grow in the presence of elemental sulfur. To assess the role of Npsr in the sulfur metabolism of A. fulgidus DSM 4304, the Npsr from A. fulgidus was characterized. AfNpsr is specific for persulfide and polysulfide as substrates in the oxidative half-reaction, exhibiting k cat / K m on the order of 104 M-1 s-1, which is similar to the kinetic parameters observed for hyperthermophilic CoA persulfide reductases. In contrast to the bacterial Npsr, AfNpsr exhibits low disulfide reductase activity with DTNB; however, similar to the bacterial enzymes, it does not show detectable activity with CoA-disulfide, oxidized glutathione, or cystine. The 3.1 Å X-ray structure of AfNpsr reveals access to the tightly bound catalytic CoA, and the active site Cys 42 is restricted by a flexible loop (residues 60-66) that is not seen in the bacterial homologs from Shewanella loihica PV-4 and Bacillus anthracis. Unlike the bacterial enzymes, AfNpsr exhibits NADH oxidase activity and also shows no detectable activity with NADPH. Models suggest steric and electrostatic repulsions of the NADPH 2 ′ -phosphate account for the strong preference for NADH. The presence of Npsr in the nonsulfur-reducing A. fulgidus suggests that the enzyme may offer some protection against S0 or serve in another metabolic role that has yet to be identified.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2021

Characterizing possible failure modes in physics-informed neural networks (characterizing-pinns-failure-modes) v0.1.0

This software provides an implementation of the physics-informed neural network setup for different differential equations. It provides a way to solve differential equations using machine learning, via a physical constraint term in the loss function. Physics-informed neural networks are a popular approach, but here, the failures of such an approach are characterized and better solutions and training procedures are provided.

Krishnapriyan, Aditi↗
DOE OSTI2023

NNSA Funded 03-0016, Ion Beam Facility Characterization Compilation (Characterization Funded and Completed FY2021)

This document is the compilation of the sampling activities associated with the FY2021 NNSA funded characterization of the 03-0016, Ion Beam facility at Los Alamos National Laboratory. Included within this document are the radiological and non-radiological sampling plans, results from the executed sampling plans, areas not sampled, summary of findings for each area sampled, and anticipated waste streams.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
NASA NTRS2003

Raman Spectroscopic Characterization of the Feldspars: Implications for Surface Mineral Characterization in Planetary Exploration

The availability in the last decade of improved Raman instrumentation using small, stable, intense lasers, sensitive CCD array detectors, and advanced fast grating systems enabled us to develop the Mars Microbeam Raman Spectrometer (MMRS), a field-portable Raman spectrometer with precision and accuracy capable of identifying minerals and their different compositions. For example, we can determine Mg cation ratios in pyroxenes and olivines to +/-0.1 on the basis of Raman peak positions. Feldspar is another major mineral formed in igneous systems whose characterization is important for determining rock petrogenesis and alteration. From their Raman spectral pattern, feldspars can be readily distinguished from ortho- and chain-silicates and from other tecto-silicates such as quartz and zeolites. We show here how well Raman spectral analysis can distinguish among members within the feldspar group.

Freeman, J. J.↗
DOE OSTI2015

A complete dosimetry experimental program in support to the core characterization and to the power calibration of the CABRI reactor. A complete dosimetry experimental program in support of the core characterization and of the power calibration of the CABRI reactor

CABRI is an experimental pulse reactor operated by CEA at the Cadarache research center. Since 1978 the experimental programs have aimed at studying the fuel behavior under Reactivity Initiated Accident (RIA) conditions. Since 2003, it has been refurbished in order to be able to provide RIA and LOCA (Loss Of Coolant Accident) experiments in prototypical PWR conditions (155 bar, 300 deg. C). This project is part of a broader scope including an overall facility refurbishment and a safety review. The global modification is conducted by the CEA project team. It is funded by IRSN, which is conducting the CIP experimental program, in the framework of the OECD/NEA project CIP. It is financed in the framework of an international collaboration. During the reactor restart, commissioning tests are realized for all equipment, systems and circuits of the reactor. In particular neutronics and power commissioning tests will be performed respectively in 2015 and 2016. This paper focuses on the design of a complete and original dosimetry program that was built in support to the CABRI core characterization and to the power calibration. Each one of the above experimental goals will be fully described, as well as the target uncertainties and the forecasted experimental techniques and data treatment. (authors)

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗
DOE OSTI2018

Recalcitrance Assessment of the Agro-industrial Residues from Five Agave Species: Ionic Liquid Pretreatment, Saccharification and Structural Characterization

Agave has recently shown its potential as a bioenergy feedstock with promising features such as higher biomass productivity than leading bioenergy feedstock while at the same time being drought-resistant with low water requirements and high sugar to ethanol conversion using ionic liquid (IL) pretreatment. Here, IL pretreatment was studied to develop the first direct side-by-side comparative recalcitrance assessment of the agro-industrial residues from five Agave species [ Agave americana (AME), A. angustifolia (ANG), A. fourcroydes (FOU), A. salmiana (SAL), and A. tequilana (TEQ)] using compositional analysis, X-ray diffraction, and the lignin syringyl/guaiacyl subunit ratio (S/G) by pyrolysis molecular beam mass spectrometry (PyMBMS). Prominent calcium oxalate peaks were found only in unpretreated AME, SAL, and TEQ. The S/G ratios of all five unpretreated Agave species were between 1.27 and 1.57 while the IL-pretreated samples were from 1.39 to 1.72. The highest overall sugar production was obtained with IL-pretreated FOU with 492 mg glucose/g biomass and 157 mg xylose/g biomass at 120°C and 3 h using 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ([C 2 C 1 Im][OAc]). An estimated theoretical ethanol yield from the studied agro-industrial residues from the five Agave species was in the range of 1060 to 5800 L ethanol/ha/year. These comparison results demonstrate the potential of the Agave spp. as a suitable biofuel feedstock which can be employed within a biorefinery scheme.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗