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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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Slides describing the student's work during his internship as well as broader context for how it fits within the broader scientific program of developing optical ring resonator strain sensors for particle detection.
Quantum technologies, such as quantum computing and sensing, require efficient single-photon emission (SPE) sources that operate at room temperature in telecom wavelengths. While several materials can serve as SPE sources, no single platform meets all the criteria for efficiency, ambient operation, and scalability. Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) with covalently attached molecules offer a promising solution. Their SPE can be easily tuned via modifications of the SWCNT's diameter, chirality, and bonded molecules, enabling emission across near-IR to telecom wavelengths at ambient conditions. However, to fully realize the potential of SWCNTs and unlock their quantum capabilities, a deeper understanding of how structural defects from molecular adducts affect their emission and competing photoexcited processes is essential. To address this gap in our knowledge, this project combined quantum chemistry calculations with data-driven methods of cheminformatics (QSAR) and machine learning (ML). The developed computational approaches have provided several design strategies for covalent functionalization of SWCNTs to improve their optical response. The collaboration with Los Alamos National Lab (LANL) enabled direct comparison of computational and experimental data, facilitating method validation. This partnership was enhanced through access to LANL's Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies (CINT) utilizing User Facility Program and summer internships, which provided three NDSU graduate students with hands-on experience at LANL. The outcomes of this project included (1) Advancing the current stage of computational methods in accurate modeling of non-adiabatic spin-dependent photoexcited dynamics and its applicability to nanosystems consisting of thousands of atoms, realized as open-access codes linked to existing DFT-based software; (2) Establishing the relationship between the structure of adducts and SWCNTs and intrinsic excitonic and spin properties of defect states for guiding novel synthetic strategies and experimental probes of chemically functionalized SWCNTs as near-IR emitting materials; (3) Generating virtual libraries of hypothetical functionalized SWCNTs for virtual screening of their chemical structures and optical properties, leveraging new functionalities of SWCNTs; (4) Offering a unique experience for NDSU graduate students that prepared them for future scientific careers related to materials modeling and big data processing. These results were summarized in 12 published journal papers and 3 recently submitted papers. One of a key finding is that the position of defect sites on the SWCNT surface primarily drives the emission redshift (up to 100 meV), while the polarity of the defect-inducing molecules has a much smaller effect (~10 meV). However, the electron-donating or withdrawing properties of a molecule influence selecting reactivity of defect sites. These insights important for optimizing synthetic protocols for desired emissions in SWCNTs. We also revealed that the interaction between two defects at various positions on the SWCNT enhances the redshift and optical activity of states, favoring strong near-IR emission. This suggests that manipulations in defect concentrations is a promising strategy for controlling efficient emission. Mostly important, the defect position was found controllable by the spin states of photoexcited intermediates: Excited aromatic molecules form ortho defects with SWCNTs at their singlet states in the presence of oxygen, while oxygen-free conditions favor para defects via the triplet-state mechanism. Additionally, a heat-activated [2+2] cycloaddition reaction facilitates divalent defect formation with fewer bonding positions that narrows emission bands. These groundbreaking findings have been experimentally validated and significantly advance our understanding of defect chemistry in SWCNTs. Using a novel encoding technique and 3D-MoRSE descriptors, we developed highly accurate ML/QSAR models to predict both the 3D structure and optical properties of SWCNTs with chemical defects. This model enabled the creation of a virtual library of 125,556 structures, providing new insights into the relationship between SWCNT-defect structure and emission.
During my internship at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, I contributed to the xPuSL project. The xPuSL project aimed to revolutionize multi-material 3D printing by combining DIW and PuSL techniques to produce complex geometries with functional materials. My role encompassed process engineering, control systems, experimentation, and CAD design, leading to a streamlined workflow from CAD models to xPuSL prints.
This paper presents a summary of my research and technical contributions during a summer internship at Los Alamos National Laboratory, supporting the development of the active veto system for the UCNProBe experiment. UCNProBe aims to perform a state-of-the-art measurement of the free neutron lifetime, requiring low-background conditions facilitated by an array of sodium iodide (NaI) scintillators.
Electrical potting is an important process to protect semiconductor devices from damaging external elements (mechanical stress, moisture, high voltage, etc.) and provides structural support for delicate devices for electrical connectivity to a larger platform. This internship will focus on the development of a universal potting jig for photoconductive semiconductor switches (PCSS). The goal is to design a reliable compression jig that is cross compatible with various PCSS designs that allow for easy potting of devices with a high dielectric breakdown strength material. The challenge with the current potting jig is that the design is only compatible with one style of PCSS and applies uneven pressure that can lead to leakage of potting material. Our approach is to move from a design that applies pressure by binder clip to utilizing a micrometer based compressing jig for a reliable packaging process that can pot a variety of devices without having to have a unique compressing jig for each of style of PCSS. Possible roadblocks with the new design include epoxy leakage into the optical path and misalignment of the electrode – metal contact bond.
In the summer of 2025, I was fortunate enough intern at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I was hired into the Southwest Analysis Laboratories for Semiconductor Advancement (SALSA) intern program. In this internship, I applied my knowledge and skills in electrical engineering to conduct hardware failure analysis. I utilized various failure analyze techniques involving the use of Infrared Thermography (IRT) and Laser Scanning Microscopy (LSM) to test different Application-Specific Integrated Circuits (ASIC) chips that are available in the public market.
Autonomous thermal regulation in nuclear reactors remains crucial for maintaining stable operation and ensuring the integrity of fuel. To alleviate public skepticism of the safety of nuclear reactors, demonstrating control over this key factor is pivotal. Utilizing electric heat pads to simulate the heat released in a reactor core, thermocouples for temperature monitoring, and an Arduino micro programmable logic controller (PLC) with an embedded proportional-integral-derivative (PID) algorithm for control, a hardware-based demonstration of a reactor heating system will validate the efficacy of reactor control over this key parameter. This report covers internship project presentation as well as relevant experience with nuclear and proposal for project upgrade.
The Pacific-Ocean Neutrino Experiment (P-ONE) is an upcoming large-volume neutrino telescope planned to be built off the coast of Vancouver Island, Canada. It aims to detect high-energy neutrinos via the Cherenkov radiation produced in water by secondary particles born from high-energy neutrino interactions. Its first set of detectors is planned to be commissioned this year. However, since the telescope is still in its early stages of development, many tests and simulations must still be run to characterize the efficacy of the detectors. One necessary simulation must be devoted towards examining whether the polarization of the incoming Cherenkov light impacts the strength of the signals by the PMTs, and it must be supported by experimental data. In this report, I detail what I have completed during my SULI internship at the Los Alamos National Lab (LANL); I present the preliminary results of a Geant4 polarization simulation as well as preliminary laboratory measurements that will later be used to inform the future P-ONE design.
Experimental particle physics has been at the forefront of analyzing the world’s largest datasets for decades. The high-energy physics (HEP) community was among the first to develop suitable software and computing tools for this purpose. GlideinWMS is a Glidein-based workload management system whose purpose is to provide experiments like CMS at CERN, DUNE at Fermilab, and others, a way to access and efficiently use vast amounts of computing resources. This system wants to provide a simple way to submit jobs to a set of computing resources, that will be provided to users behind the scenes. Glideins are the pilot jobs executed on the worker nodes at the grid sites, performing operations such as hardware detection, environment setup, and error handling. After all these operations, they will launch the actual user job. Many grid sites are supported, such as shared clusters, Google CE, and AWS. My internship aimed to design and code a flexible pilot jobs framework that will replace the one used by GlideinWMS, developing a modular and flexible skeleton of the Glidein and adding further functionalities. My project also focused on the application of machine learning techniques as support to this management system.
This report is a resume of the activities in which I was involved during my internship at Fermilab Particle Physics and Accelerator Laboratory in Batavia. The project at whom my work is connected is the PIP-II (Proton Improvement Plan – II), in particular I worked on the SSR cryomodules. The main task of my training program was to write an Engineering Note concerning the design of the lifting holders for the SSR1 and SSR2 string assembly. In the meanwhile, I was also commissioned to design some additional components that will take part actively in the project as well. During the initial phase I was lightly trained about the project and its general design, then I was supervised on my specific tasks. I want to thank primarily Jacopo Bernardini that was my supervisor, he attempted to create a favorable workplace, suggesting, listening and meeting all the requests, without his help achieving the result would have been greatly harder. Donato Passerelli and Mattia prise deserve a special thanks too for being always available for support and source of motivation. I had also the chance to share my work during the "Weekly Students Meetings" dealing with other bright engineers and students such as Colin Narug and Caleb Denton. I want also to express my gratitude to Simone Donati, Giorgio Bellettini and Emanuela Barzi that make this unique experience possible organizing this program for decades.
2023 Final presentation – Summer Italian internship
Italian Summer Internship
The Muon g-2 experiment at Fermilab has the main goal to measure the muon anomalous magnetic moment $a_{µ}$ = ($g$ − 2)/2 to a precision of 0.14 parts per million (ppm), which means 4 times improvement in precision with respect to the final result from BNL: $a_{µ}$ (expt. BNL) = 11659208.0(6.3) × 10$^{−10}$ (0.54 ppm) In this report I summarize the work done at the $g$-2 experiment during my summer internship at Fermilab. In the first two weeks my first task has been to replace the NIM logic used in the Laser Calibration System with a new FPGA. Then, I was involved in the Lost Muons analysis studying both real data and MonteCarlo simulations.
The ICARUS experiment at Fermilab is the far detector of the Short Baseline Neutrino Program (SBN), aimed at studing the neutrino oscillation to find a fourth type of neutrino, called sterile neutrino. A key component for this detector is the trigger system, which aims to identify and isolate the physical interactions from the background events. In this framework my internship program was dedicated to the development of trigger logic and trigger inhibit mechanism in order to select the genuine neutrino interaction and to guarantee a correct functioning of the readout system. These two steps, that represent a part of the commissioning of the trigger system, were implemented with LabVIEW Software. The obtained results are a fundamental step towards a succesful activation of the detector in the next few months.
This presentation is for the NSSC Fall workshop. I will be presenting both my work during my Sandia internship as well as my research at UIUC.
Atmospheric dynamics often play a critical role in the sustainability and reliability of diverse forms of energy production. This is especially true for the growing number of renewable energy deployments that harness aspects of the environment for power production. While the University of Memphis has a strong research background in energy systems, we have little experience working with the Earth and Environmental Systems Science Division (EESSD) and their associated User Facilities. Of particular interest to us is the Atmospheric Science Research and the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) user facility to address surface-boundary layer interactions and physical phenomena. One of the major challenges for understanding and developing energy systems and management platforms is accurate modeling/forecasting of atmospheric conditions across disparate spatial and temporal scales. These conditions are often required to understand the lowest levels of the atmospheric boundary layer, but are also important to understand higher atmospheric conditions where aerosols affect cloud development. The objective of this work was to develop partnerships with national laboratories for collaboration on environmental science and its intersection with sustainable energy systems, as well as to leverage the ARM user facility data repositories to enhance our research capabilities in energy systems and their inter-dependence on environmental systems for future engagement with EESSD. Specifically, we accomplished these objectives by (1) developing collaborations with Oakridge National Laboratory ARM Data Science and Integration Group which resulted in student internships, (2) employed ARM data to develope modeling of the atmospheric boundary layer optical turbulence, and (3) optimally-sized large-scale renewable energy systems and their associated energy storage systems with ARM repository data.
Summer Internship at Fermilab 2022
The goal of this internship is to develop a fluid dynamics characterization of the high-pressure flow used for cleaning the internal surface of the SRF cavities. Initially, the High Pressure Rinsing (HPR) process is introduced, focusing on the problems of the SRF cavities and how this method can be used to increase their acceleration efficiency and performance. The characterization of the problem is then presented, including an introduction to the multiphase flow modeling and the analysis of the Fermilab facility for the HPR. To accomplish the goal, a preliminary estimation of the variables was performed using MATLAB. Then, multiple 2D simulations were developed with Ansys Fluent, and the influence of the main parameter was investigated. The simulation results are then presented and analysed, with a focus on the possible future developments of the HPR process fluid dynamic characterization.