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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 37 records · Page 2
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1995

Harmonic oscillator representation in the theory of scattering and nuclear reactions

The following questions, concerning the application of the harmonic oscillator representation (HOR) in the theory of scattering and reactions, are discussed: the formulation of the scattering theory in HOR; exact solutions of the free motion Schroedinger equation in HOR; separable expansion of the short range potentials and the calculation of the phase shifts; 'isolated states' as generalization of the Wigner-von Neumann bound states embedded in continuum; a nuclear coupled channel problem in HOR; and the description of true three body scattering in HOR. As an illustration the soft dipole mode in the (11)Li nucleus is considered in a frame of the (9)Li+n+n cluster model taking into account of three body continuum effects.

Smirnov, Yuri F.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Light Dark Matter Detection with Hydrogen-Rich Targets and Low-$T_c$ TES Detectors

Direct detection of nuclear scatterings of sub-GeV dark matter (DM) particles favors low-Z nuclei. Hydrogen nucleus, which has a single proton, provides the best kinematic match. The characteristic nuclear recoil energy is boosted by a factor of a few tens from those for larger nuclei used in traditional Weakly Interacting Massive Particles searches. Furthermore, hydrogen is optimal for detecting spin-dependent nuclear scatterings of sub-GeV DM, where large parameter space still remains unconstrained yet. In this paper, we first introduce several hydrogen-rich targets, which emit two classes of signals under kinetic excitations. One class of the signals is infrared photons, which are from fundamental vibrational and rotational modes of molecules and at several characteristic wavelengths. Another is acoustic phonons and optical phonons that decay into acoustic phonons. Then we discuss the technical status and future researches of low-T c transition-edge sensor (TES) detectors, which measure the infrared photons and acoustic phonons with desirable sensitivities. Utilization of hydrogen-rich targets and ultra-sensitive low-T c TES detectors for light DM detection requires both theoretical modeling and experimental prototyping.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Calibration plan for the SBC 10-kg liquid argon detector with 100 eV target threshold

The Scintillating Bubble Chamber (SBC) Collaboration is designing a new generation of low background, noble liquid bubble chamber experiments with sub-keV nuclear recoil threshold. These experiments combine the electronic recoil blindness of a bubble chamber with the energy resolution of noble liquid scintillation, and maintain electron recoil discrimination at higher degrees of superheat (lower nuclear recoil thresholds) than Freon-based bubble chambers. A 10-kg liquid argon bubble chamber has the potential to set world leading limits on the dark matter nucleon cross-section for 𝒪(GeV/c 2 ) masses, and to perform a high statistics coherent elastic neutrino nuclear scattering measurement with reactor neutrinos. This work presents a detailed calibration plan to measure the detector response of these experiments, combining photoneutron scattering with two new techniques to induce sub-keV nuclear recoils: nuclear Thomson scattering and thermal neutron capture.

Dark Matter detectors (WIMPs, axions, etc.)↗
NASA NTRS2002

A Chandra X-ray Study of Cygnus A: The Nucleus - 2

We report Chandra Advanced CCD Imaging Spectrometer and quasi-simultaneous Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) observations of the nearby, powerful radio galaxy Cygnus A, with the present paper focusing on the properties of the active nucleus. In the Chandra observation, the hard (less than a few keV) X-ray emission is spatially unresolved with a size is approximately 1" (1.5 kpc, H(sub 0) = 50 km/s/Mpc) and coincides with the radio and near-infrared nuclei. In contrast, the soft (less than 2 keV) emission exhibits a bipolar nebulosity that aligns with the optical bipolar continuum and emission-line structures and approximately with the radio jet. In particular, the soft X-ray emission corresponds very well with the [O III] (lambda)5007 and H(alpha) + [N II] lambda(lambda)6548, 6583 nebulosity imaged with Hubble Space Telescope. At the location of the nucleus, there is only weak soft X-ray emission, an effect that may be intrinsic or result from a dust lane that crosses the nucleus perpendicular to the source axis. The spectra of the various X-ray components have been obtained by simultaneous fits to the six detectors. The compact nucleus is detected to 100 keV and is well described by a heavily absorbed power-law spectrum with Gamma(sub h) = 1.52(sup + 0.12, sub -0.12) (similar to other 0.12 narrow-line radio galaxies) and equivalent hydrogen column N(sub H)(nuc) = 2.0(sup +0.1, sub -0.1) x 10(exp 23)/sq cm. This 0.2 column is compatible with the dust obscuration to the near-infrared source for a normal gas-to-dust ratio. The soft (less than 2 keV) emission from the nucleus may be described by a power-law spectrum with the same index (i.e., Gamma(sub l) = Gamma(sub h), although direct fits suggest a slightly larger value for Gamma(sub l). Narrow emission lines from highly ionized neon and silicon, as well as a "neutral" Fe K(alpha) line, are detected in the nucleus and its vicinity (r approximately less than 2 kpc). The equivalent width (EW) of the Fe K(alpha) line (182(sup +40, sub -54) eV) is in good agreement with theoretical predictions for the EW versus N(sub H)(nuc) relationship in various geometries. An Fe K edge is also seen. The RXTE observations indicate a temperature of kT = 6.9(sup +0., sub -1.0) keV for the cluster gas (discussed in Paper III of this series) and cluster emission lines of Fe K(alpha) and Fe K(beta) and/or Ni K(alpha). We consider the possibility that the extended soft X-ray emission is electron-scattered nuclear radiation. Given that 1% of the unabsorbed 2 - 10 keV nuclear radiation would have to be scattered, the necessary gas column [N(sub H)(Scattering) approx. = 3.5 x 10(exp 22)/sq cm] would absorb the X-rays rather than scatter them if the gas is cold. Thus, the scattering plasma must be highly ionized. If this ionization is achieved through photoionization by the nucleus, the ionization parameter zeta greater than 1 ergs cm/s and the electron density n(sub e) approx. = 6 cc given the observed distance of the soft X-ray emission from the nucleus. The electron column density inferred from the X-ray observations is much too low to account for the extended optical scattered light, strongly suggesting that the polarized optical light is scattered by dust. The presence of highly ionized Ne lines in the soft X-ray spectrum requires 20 ergs cm/s approximately less than zeta approximately less than 300 ergs cm/s these lines may originate closer to the nucleus than the extended soft continuum or in a lower density gas. A collisionally ionized thermal model of the extended soft X-rays cannot be ruled out but is unattractive in view of the low metal abundance required (Z = 0.03 Z(mass)). The hard X-ray to far-infrared ratio for the nucleus of Cygnus A is similar to that seen in Seyfert 1 and unobscured radio galaxies. By means of the correlation between hard X-ray luminosity and nuclear optical absolute magnitude for these classes of object, we estimate M(sub B) = -22.4 for Cygnus A, near the .borderline between Seyfert galaxies and QSOs.

Young, Andrew J.↗
NASA NTRS2010

Proton Lateral Broadening Distribution Comparisons Between GRNTRN, MCNPX, and Laboratory Beam Measurements

Recent developments in NASA s deterministic High charge (Z) and Energy TRaNsport (HZETRN) code have included lateral broadening of primary ion beams due to small-angle multiple Coulomb scattering, and coupling of the ion-nuclear scattering interactions with energy loss and straggling. This new version of HZETRN is based on Green function methods, called GRNTRN, and is suitable for modeling transport with both space environment and laboratory boundary conditions. Multiple scattering processes are a necessary extension to GRNTRN in order to accurately model ion beam experiments, to simulate the physical and biological-effective radiation dose, and to develop new methods and strategies for light ion radiation therapy. In this paper we compare GRNTRN simulations of proton lateral broadening distributions with beam measurements taken at Loma Linda University Proton Therapy Facility. The simulated and measured lateral broadening distributions are compared for a 250 MeV proton beam on aluminum, polyethylene, polystyrene, bone substitute, iron, and lead target materials. The GRNTRN results are also compared to simulations from the Monte Carlo MCNPX code for the same projectile-target combinations described above.

Mertens, Christopher J.↗
NASA NTRS1975

Nucleon and heavy-ion total and absorption cross section for selected nuclei

Approximate solutions of the coupled-channel equations for high-energy composite particle scattering are obtained and are applied to the nuclear scattering problem. Relationships between several approximation procedures are established and discussed. The eikonal formalism is used with a small-angle approximation to calculate the coherent elastic scattered amplitude from which total and absorption cross sections are derived. Detailed comparisons with nucleon-nucleus experiments show agreement within 5 percent except at lower energies where the eikonal approximation is of questionable accuracy. Even at these lower energies, agreement is within 15 percent. Tables of cross sections required for cosmic heavy-ion transport and shielding studies are presented.

Wilson, J. W.↗
DOE OSTI2021

Microscopic investigation of the 8 Li(n,γ)Li 9 reaction

Background: The 8 Li (n, γ) 9 Li reaction plays an important role in several astrophysics scenarios. It cannot be measured directly and indirect experiments have so far provided only cross section limits. Theoretical predictions differ by an order of magnitude. Purpose: In this work we study the properties of 9 Li bound states and low-lying resonances and calculate the 8 Li(n, γ) 9 Li cross section within the no-core shell model with continuum (NCSMC) with chiral nucleon-nucleon and three-nucleon interactions as input. Methods: Here, the NCSMC is an ab initio method applicable to light nuclei that provides a unified description of bound and scattering states well suited to calculate low-energy nuclear scattering and reactions. For the capture cross section calculation, we adjust calculated thresholds to experimental values. Results: Our calculations reproduce the experimentally known bound states as well as the lowest 5/2 – resonance of 9 Li. We predict a 3/2 – spin-parity assignment for the resonance observed at 5.38 MeV. In addition to the very narrow 7/2 – resonance corresponding presumably to the experimental 6.43 MeV state, we find several other broad low-lying resonances. Conclusions: Our calculated 8 Li(n, γ) 9 Li cross section is within the limits derived from the 1998 National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory Coulomb-dissociation experiment. However, it is higher than cross sections obtained in recent phenomenological studies. It is dominated by a direct E1 capture to the ground state with a resonant contribution at ≈ 0.2 MeV due to E2/M1 radiation enhanced by the 5/2 – resonance.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Prospects for Light Dark Matter Searches at Large-Volume Neutrino Detectors

We propose a new approach to search for light dark matter (DM), with keV–GeV mass, via inelastic nucleus scattering at large-volume neutrino detectors such as Borexino, DUNE, Super-K, Hyper-K, and JUNO. The approach uses inelastic nuclear scattering of cosmic-ray boosted DM, enabling a low-background search for DM in these experiments. Large neutrino detectors, with higher thresholds than dark matter detectors, can be used, since the nuclear deexcitation lines are O ( 10 ) MeV . Using a hadrophilic dark-gauge-boson-portal model as a benchmark, we show that the nuclear inelastic channels generally provide better sensitivity than the elastic scattering for a large region of light DM parameter space. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Dutta, Bhaskar↗
NASA NTRS1976

The origin of optical polarization in NGC 1068

The polarization of emission lines in the nucleus of NGC 1068 has been measured with a digicon, a single-channel scanner, and interference filters. It is found that the permitted lines of H and probably also He II are polarized at nearly the same position angle and by the same amount as the neighboring continuum. This argues strongly that a common dust scattering mechanism is responsible for all the polarization. The forbidden lines are weakly polarized at a position angle quite different from the continuum, indicating an origin outside the nuclear scattering region. The continuum radiation has been found to be circularly polarized with ellipticity of the order of 5 percent in the red. Such high ellipticity is very unlikely to be of nonthermal origin. We take it as evidence that the nuclear dust is in the form of clouds in an asymmetric skew geometry; the polarization then arises from multiple scattering within these clouds.

Angel, J. R. P.↗
NASA NTRS1973

An Approximate Equation For The Multiply Scattered Contribution to A Lidar Return

An approximate equation is developed which describes the contribution of Nth order scattering to a lidar return. This development assumes a homogeneous scattering medium characterized by a scattering function sharply peaked in the forward direction and relatively insensitive to angle near the backscatter direction. The derivation includes the effects of finite divergence of the transmitted laser beam, finite receiver field of view, finite separation between the laser and the receiver and nonparallel system alignment. The derivation presented uses small angle approximations to reduce the time dependent multiple scattering problem to a time independent form which is then solved with techniques previously developed for multiple small angle nuclear scattering.

Eloranta, Edwin W.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Thermodynamic origin of the pressure-induced Invar effect: General criterion and experimental study of Fe 68 ⁢Pd 32

Synchrotron X-ray diffraction measurements were performed on 57 Fe 68 Pd 32 at multiple pressures and two temperatures in a diamond-anvil cell. Between 4 and 11GPa, the thermal expansion was zero or slightly negative. This pressure-induced Invar effect was studied further with 57 Fe nuclear forward scattering and nuclear resonant inelastic X-ray scattering to obtain information on the pressure-induced changes in both the magnetization and the phonon density of states. Magnetic entropy and phonon entropy were obtained from these results, the latter with additional measurements from inelastic neutron scattering to account for the contributions from Pd atoms. The dependencies of these entropies on pressure gave the magnetic and phonon contributions to thermal expansion. These canceled in the region of pressure-induced Invar behavior, even though they individually increased by more than a factor of 2 below the Curie pressure. The behavior of phonons gives evidence for spin-phonon interactions in Fe 68 Pd 32 . A general explanation of the pressure-induced Invar effect is presented, showing that Invar behavior is typically expected at a pressure P* below a magnetic transition at pressure PC. The difference in pressure P C − P* scales with the fractional reduction in magnetic exchange interaction divided by the average Gr¨uneisen parameter.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Summary of light-element evaluation work: nuclear data uncertainty quantification

Hale & Paris (T-2) have evaluated the 15 N system to provide nuclear cross section and covariance information for nuclear data uncertainty quantification. This memo gives a brief discussion of the R-matrix method used to generate this nuclear scattering and reaction data in the ENDF-6 format.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1994

HST ultraviolet spectropolarimetry of NGC 1068

We present multiaperture spectropolarimetric observations of the Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 1068. The nuclear region of NGC 1068 was observed with three apertures (4.3 sec x 1.4 sec., 1.0 sec., and 0.3 sec.) by the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). These ultraviolet data allow us to study the scattered, nuclear light without the complication of polarization dilution caused by strong unpolarized starlight. In particular, we can determine the mechanism of the scattering and the size scale of the scattering region. Our data confirm the findings of Antonicci & Miller (1985) and Code et al. (1993). Shortward of 2700 A, the continuum polarization is constant, P is approximately 16%, at a position angle of 97 deg, indicating electron scattering as the mechanism for the polarization. In addition, the narrow-line emission is much less polarized than the continuum, and two broad lines, Mg II lambda lambda 2796, 2804 and C III lambda 1909, are seen in polarized flux Ly-alpha and C IV are not included in our spectral region). The total flux data also indicate that from approximately 2200 A to approximately 3000 A, the spectrum of NGC 1068 is strongly affected by blended Fe II emission. These polarimetry data are explained by the occulation/reflection model proposed by Antonucci & Miller (1985). According to this model, NGC 1068 harbors a Seyfert 1 nucleus which is obscured along the line of sight by an opaque torus. The symmetry axis of the torus is alinged with the radio axis. Radiation from the broad-line region and feature continuum source can escape along the poles of the torus where it is scattered to us. This scattered light receives a partial linear polarization, perpendicular to the symmetry axis of the torus. Our measurements of the relative fluxes and polarized fluxes in the three apertures indicated that the scattering region is spatially extended on a scale of approximatley 1 sec. Also, in the 0.3 sec aperture, and to a lesser extent in the 1.0 sec aperture, the polarization is is somewhat higher, and the position angle somewhat lower, than in largest aperture. Presumably, isolating the central part of the relecting region results in less geometrical cancellation of the polarization and an angle indicative of the location of the innermost scattering paricles.

Antonucci, Robert↗
DOE OSTI2024

Predicting nucleon-nucleus scattering observables using nuclear structure theory

Developing a predictive capability for inelastic scattering will find applications in multiple areas. Experimental data for neutron-nucleus inelastic scattering is limited and thus one needs a robust theoretical framework to complement it. Charged-particle inelastic scattering can be used as a surrogate for ( n, γ ) reactions to predict capture cross sections for unstable nuclei. Our work uses microscopic nuclear structure calculations for spherical nuclei to obtain nucleon-nucleus scattering potentials and calculate cross sections for these processes. We implement the Jeukenne, Lejeune, Mahaux (JLM) semi-microscopic folding approach, where the medium effects on nuclear interaction are parameterized in nuclear matter to obtain the nucleon-nucleon ( NN ) interaction in a medium at positive energies. We solve for the nuclear ground state using the Hartree-Fock-Bogliubov (HFB) many-body method, assuming the nucleons within the nucleus interact via the Gogny-D1M potential. The vibrational excited states of the target nucleus are calculated using the quasi-particle random phase approximation (QRPA). We demonstrate our approach for spherical nuclei in the medium-mass region, showing scattering results for the 90 Zr nucleus.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗