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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

Imaging and dosimetric characteristics of 67 Cu

In recent years the use of beta-emitting radiopharmaceuticals for cancer therapy has expanded rapidly following development of therapeutics for neuroendocrine tumors, prostate cancer, and other oncologic malignancies. One emerging beta-emitting radioisotope of interest for therapy is 67 Cu (t 1/2 : 2.6 d) due to its chemical equivalency with the widely-established positron-emitting isotope 64 Cu (t 1/2 : 12.7 h). Here we evaluate both the imaging and dosimetric characteristics of 67 Cu, as well as producing the first report of SPECT/CT imaging using 67 Cu. To this end, 67 Cu was produced by photon-induced reactions on isotopically-enriched 68 Zn at the Low-Energy Accelerator Facility (LEAF) of Argonne National Laboratory, followed by bulk separation of metallic 68 Zn by sublimation and radiochemical purification by column chromatography. Gamma spectrometry was performed by efficiency-calibrated high-purity germanium (HPGe) analysis to verify absolute activity calibration and establish radionuclidic purity. Absolute activity measurements corroborated manufacturer-recommended dose-calibrator settings and no radionuclidic impurities were observed. Using the Clinical Trials Network anthropomorphic chest phantom, SPECT/CT images were acquired. Medium Energy (ME) SPECT collimation was found to provide the best image quality from the primary 185 keV gamma emission of 67 Cu. Reconstructed images of 67 Cu were similar in quality to images acquired using 177 Lu. Recovery coefficients were calculated and compared against quantitative images of 99m Tc, 177 Lu, and 64 Cu within the same anthropomorphic chest phantom. Production and clinical imaging of 67 Cu appears feasible, and future studies investigating the therapeutic efficacy of 67 Cu-based radiopharmaceuticals are warranted.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗

Nanoparticle Superlattices through Template-Encoded DNA Dendrimers

The chemical interactions that lead to the emergence of hierarchical structures are often highly complex and difficult to program. In this paper, the synthesis of a series of superlattices based upon 30 different structurally reconfigurable DNA dendrimers is reported, each of which presents a well-defined number of single-stranded oligonucleotides (i.e., sticky ends) on its surface. Such building blocks assemble with complementary DNA-functionalized gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) to yield five distinct crystal structures, depending upon choice of dendrimer and defined by phase symmetry. These DNA dendrimers can associate to form micelle-dendrimers, whereby the extent of association can be modulated based upon surfactant concentration and dendrimer length to produce a low-symmetry Ti5Ga4-type phase that has yet to be reported in the field of colloidal crystal engineering. Taken together, colloidal crystals that feature three different types of particle bonding interactions.template-dendron, dendrimer-dendrimer, and DNA-modified AuNP-dendrimer.are reported, illustrating how sequence-defined recognition and dynamic association can be combined to yield complex hierarchical materials.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Uranium Processing Signatures for Nuclear Forensics (NA22 End of FY23 Report)

A vacuum induction melting (VIM) furnace was used to produce an ~120 kg depleted uranium (DU) rod in November 2021 from well characterized feedstock to investigate the separation of thorium (Th) and protactinium (Pa) from uranium (U) during U metal casting and quantify the behavior of the 230 Th/ 234 U and 231 Pa/ 235 U radiochronometry systems. This work suggested that while 234 Th, measured by gamma spectrometry, appears to segregate to the top and surface of the rod, the concentration of 230 Th determined by isotope dilution mass spectrometry (IDMS) in drill turnings from multiple locations in the rod, including the hot top, is relatively consistent. To evaluate whether Th is potentially enriched at only the very outer surface of the cast DU rod relative to the bulk material in the cast rod, thin surface samples were collected from the cast DU rod. Locations sampled included the inner diameter (ID) and outer diameter (OD) of the bottom of the casting and the ID, OD, and top face of the hot top (very top of the casting). The locations are shown in Figure 1. Four samples were taken from each location at different depths in the cast material. Each cut took approximately 0.03 – 0.05” off of the casting.

38 RADIATION CHEMISTRY, RADIOCHEMISTRY, AND NUCLEA↗

Cost‐Effective and Scalable Approach for the Separation and Direct Cathode Recovery from End‐of‐Life Li‐Ion Batteries

Li-ion battery recycling presents a promising opportunity to decrease dependence on foreign sources of materials and harvest precious materials within the United States. Herein, a superior complete direct recycling process on individual end-of-life cells is reported where the recovered high-purity cathode active material, as well as electrolyte salt Li hexafluorophosphate (LiPF 6 ) can be reused without significant processing. This new process utilizes a series of mechanical separation steps that enable the separation of the cathode and anode active materials while they are still attached to their current collectors. Using this type of process can significantly reduce metal contamination and enable a clean cathode that can be directly recycled. The process if implemented commercially can greatly reduce the environmental burden of batteries as the greenhouse gas emissions of 8.25 kg CO 2 e kg −1 from the direct recycling process are 64% lower compared to those from virgin production of cathode material. During electrochemical testing of the recovered LiNi 0.6 Mn 0.2 Co 0.2 O 2 a discharge capacity of ≈160 mAh g −1 and good cyclability of over 250 cycles at 0.33C are achieved. This success paves a new pathway to explore and optimize existing Li-ion battery recycling procedures.

electrolyte reuse↗

Current Status, Performance and Plans for the NASA Airborne Visible and Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS)

The status of the Airborne Visible and Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) is reported at the beginning of the current flight season. Sensor performance based on laboratory measurements and trend data as well as a review of end of 1995 season performance is given as a measure of expected performance during the 1996 season which began in March of 1996. Recent improvements to the sensor's internal calibration source and measurements of instrument parameters are described. The effects of these enhancements on the reported data are also discussed along with and update onflight schedules and plans for 1996 flight operations.

Airborne↗

The User Guide for the ComPro Database

An extensive database of glass composition and durability data has been compiled at Savannah River National Laboratory to support the development of nuclear waste glasses. This database is referred to as the Glass Composition-Properties Database (ComPro). The ComPro Database, Revision 3, contains 14,134 total rows of data and 125 columns of composition, durability, as defined by the Product Consistency Test, and other fabrication and characterization information, if available, for each glass. Of the 14,134 total rows, 8,484 rows have been classified as “Model” data and 5,650 rows have been classified as “Non-Model” data. An integral supplement to the ComPro database is the User Guide. The User Guide was developed as a tool to aid the End User in a more effective use of the ComPro database. The User Guide provides a road-map of the specific datasets that comprise the ComPro database (both “Model” and “Non-Model” data) as well as a technical basis for the terminology and definitions the End User will encounter. In this report, a general description of the format and information contained in the User Guide is provided. In addition, specific terminology used in the User Guide is also discussed.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

Moving Away from Ones and Zeros, Designing a Ground Data System Based on Higher Levels of Abstraction

Previous JPL ground systems have been designed with the Ground Data System (GDS) engineer in mind. The focus on these systems has been on packaging and delivery of low level information (frames, packets, telemetry values) to the end user. It was not that long ago when project teams would be huddled over a workstation, examining crude displays of telemetry bits organized in various ways, trying to determine the status of a spacecraft. Understanding the data often required additional levels of GDS expertise, or worse, transformation of the raw data into alternative formats followed by ingestion into other tools so that the data became meaningful. The primary focus was often to answer these types of questions: "Why did this particular frame fail Reed-Solomon decode? Why did this packet get marked as invalid? Why am I missing a block of telemetry from my query?" -- which are completely valid questions to ask from a GDS Engineer's point of view, and large families of tools have been designed to help answer these questions. But these are not the questions that most users care about - which are more like: "Why is the battery state of charge trending down? Show me a summary image report for the last traverse to the target. Show me a data accountability summary for the last DSN pass." Answers to these questions, which are what users are looking for, requires a higher level of abstraction and supporting tools than mining through ones and zeros. JPL has created a next generation capability called the Mission Data Processing and Control System (MPCS) which is designed to support this higher level of abstraction by providing customizable views of the ground system combining collections of lower level information into more meaningful ways. Instead of examining frames, packets, and individual telemetry data points -- MPCS is capable of providing comprehensive summary reports, product status, overall flight/ground event status, as well as payload health summaries. Based on these higher level views, end users can make tactical or strategic decisions, or drop into detailed analysis as needed. System designers need to continue building systems that support low level GDS troubleshooting - but the basic design of a GDS should be geared towards what end users actually need to see. This paper will describe the capabilities of MPCS that directly support these higher levels of abstraction, and which are being used today in missions such as the Mars Science Laboratory and other NASA missions.

MPCS↗

Assessment of Technical Information Needs and Considerations for Front-End Activities for Molten Salt Fuel Types

This report details an assessment of the hazards and safety impacts related to front-end operations of molten salt reactors (MSR) as well as an assessment of existing safety guidance. Publicly available information was evaluated to make recommendations to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for guidance development and information gathering needs. Five different MSR technologies were evaluated along with information from 1960’s about the Atomic Energy Commission programs for the Aircraft Reactor Experiment and Molten Salt Reactor Experiment. Primary areas of evaluation include fuel cycle facilities, transportation and at reactor fuel mixing operations up to reactor startup. In general, there was difficulty synthesizing publicly available information due to the early stage of the MSR development and proprietary information associated with the reactor technology companies analyzed. There are a few specific recommendations from this report. One overarching paradigm shift that the NRC needs to evaluate is the possibility of collocating fuel cycle facilities with operating MSRs. Although there is no specific prohibition to this in the NRC regulations, the collocation of the fuel cycle facilities with the operating MSR presents a novel approach compared to the light water reactor baseline. More guidance and research into thorium operations and regulation is needed. The hazards associated with the stability of stored fuel constituents need to be evaluated. Some reactor fuel cycles use beryllium, and its use and the associated hazards need further analysis. NRC-approved designs for transportation packages for shipping molten salt fuels and factory-built and fueled reactors are not available.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗

Experimental Durability Testing of 4H SiC JFET Integrated Circuit Technology at 727 C

We have reported SiC integrated circuits (IC's) with two levels of metal interconnect that have demonstrated prolonged operation for thousands of hours at their intended peak ambient operational temperature of 500 C [1, 2]. However, it is recognized that testing of semiconductor microelectronics at temperatures above their designed operating envelope is vital to qualification. Towards this end, we previously reported operation of a 4H-SiC JFET IC ring oscillator on an initial fast thermal ramp test through 727 C [3]. However, this thermal ramp was not ended until a peak temperature of 880 C (well beyond failure) was attained. Further experiments are necessary to better understand failure mechanisms and upper temperature limit of this extreme-temperature capable 4H-SiC IC technology. Here we report on additional experimental testing of custom-packaged 4H-SiC JFET IC devices at temperatures above 500 C. In one test, the temperature was ramped and then held at 727 C, and the devices were periodically measured until electrical failure was observed. A 4H-SiC JFET on this chip electrically functioned with little change for around 25 hours at 727 C before rapid increases in device resistance caused failure. In a second test, devices from our next generation 4H-SiC JFET ICs were ramped up and then held at 700 C (which is below the maximum deposition temperature of the dielectrics). Three ring oscillators functioned for 8 hours at this temperature before degradation. In a third experiment, an alternative die attach of gold paste and package lid was used, and logic circuit operation was demonstrated for 143.5 hours at 700 C.

JFET↗

Experimental Durability Testing of 4H SiC JFET Integrated Circuit Technology at 727 Degrees Centigrade

We have reported SiC integrated circuits (ICs) with two levels of metal interconnect that have demonstrated prolonged operation for thousands of hours at their intended peak ambient operational temperature of 500 degrees Centigrade. However, it is recognized that testing of semiconductor microelectronics at temperatures above their designed operating envelope is vital to qualification. Towards this end, we previously reported operation of a 4H-SiC JFET IC ring oscillator on an initial fast thermal ramp test through 727 degrees Centigrade. However, this thermal ramp was not ended until a peak temperature of 880 degrees Centigrade (well beyond failure) was attained. Further experiments are necessary to better understand failure mechanisms and upper temperature limit of this extreme-temperature capable 4H-SiC IC technology.Here we report on additional experimental testing of custom-packaged 4H-SiC JFET IC devices at temperatures above 500 degrees Centigrade. In one test, the temperature was ramped and then held at 727 degrees Centigrade, and the devices were periodically measured until electrical failure was observed. A 4H-SiC JFET on this chip electrically functioned with little change for around 25 hours at 727 degrees Centigrade before rapid increases in device resistance caused failure. In a second test, devices from our next generation 4H-SiC JFET ICs were ramped up and then held at 700 degrees Centigrade (which is below the maximum deposition temperature of the dielectrics). Three ring oscillators functioned for 8 hours at this temperature before degradation. In a third experiment, an alternative die attach of gold paste and package lid was used, and logic circuit operation was demonstrated for 143.5 hours at 700 degrees Centigrade.

Silicon Carbide↗

A deficiency in DNA repair and DNA-PKcs expression in the radiosensitive BALB/c mouse

We have studied the efficiency of DNA double strand break (DSB) rejoining in primary cells from mouse strains that show large differences in in vivo radiosensitivity and tumor susceptibility. Cells from radiosensitive, cancer-prone BALB/c mice showed inefficient end joining of gamma ray-induced DSBs as compared with cells from all of the other commonly used strains and F1 hybrids of C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice. The BALB/c repair phenotype was accompanied by a significantly reduced expression level of DNA-PKcs protein as well as a lowered DNA-PK activity level as compared with the other strains. In conjunction with published reports, these data suggest that natural genetic variation in nonhomologous end joining processes may have a significant impact on the in vivo radiation response of mice.

Non-NASA Center↗

A Primer on Mean Opacities in the Radiative Transfer Equation

The radiative transfer equation is used in many applications, including the simulation of nuclear weapons. Opacity is a term that is often used in conjunction with the radiative transfer equation along with mean opacities. For someone new to the subject, there may be confusion over various parts of the radiative transfer equation or why opacities and mean opacities are so important to solving certain problems. This report aims to give a brief introduction to the radiative transfer equation as well as an explanation to why opacities and mean opacities are important. We also derive the Planck and Rosseland mean opacities, which are the most common mean opacities used in applications. At the end of the report are references that can be used to learn more about the subject.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Adaptation and Response in Drylands (ARID): A Dryland Research Agenda and Campaign Strategy

Dryland ecosystems cover 41% of Earth’s land surfaces, account for 44% of cultivated lands and 60% of food sources, and make large contributions to the global water and carbon cycles. However, these ecosystems are experiencing unprecedented extremes including heatwaves, floods, and droughts as well as hotter temperatures and often declining water resource availability. These ecosystems are some of the most challenging to monitor given their high temporal variability with rapid response to their environment as well as vast spatial variability with intermixing of different plant species and life forms amongst bare soil coverage. The Adaptation and Response in Drylands (ARID) campaign was selected by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as a scoping study to develop a research agenda for a dryland field campaign. Here, we detail our ARID science research agenda and implementation plan that were developed based on an extensive community engagement effort in over 160 events with over a thousand scientists, land managers, and Tribal communities between 2023 and 2024. The selected science themes cover drought and climate variability, ecosystem structure, function, and biodiversity, carbon cycle interannual variability and trends, and social ecological systems (land management and adaptation). We then detail our remote sensing, modeling, and field-based strategies to capture high temporal and high spatial resolution processes. Finally, our implementation strategy is presented which includes focus area selections in a core intensive western U.S. domain and distributed international domains. This strategy includes our overarching guiding principles of using multi-temporal airborne acquisitions and super sites as well as enhancing land management in co-development with end-user partners. While originally developed for NASA, our ARID report creates a blueprint for any future dryland field campaign, at any scale, that can be implemented widely for foundational and applied science objectives.

drylands↗

Solar Cycle Dynamics of Solar, Magnetospheric, and Heliospheric Particles, and Long-Term Atmospheric Coupling: SAMPEX

This report summarizes science analysis activities by the SAMPEX mission science team during the period during the period July 1, 1997 through July 1, 1997. Bibliographic entries for 1996 and 1997 to date (July 1997) are included. The SAMPEX science team was extremely active, with 27 articles published or submitted to refereed journals, 17 papers published in their entirety in Conference Proceedings, and 74 contributed papers, seminars, and miscellaneous presentations. The bibliography at the end of this report constitutes the primary description of the research activity. Science highlights are given under the major activity headings, as well as other activities of the team.

Mason, G. M.↗

Solar Cycle Dynamics of Solar, Magnetospheric, and Heliospheric Particles, and Long-Term Atmospheric Coupling: SAMPEX

This report summarizes science analysis activities by the SAMPEX mission science team during the period during the period July 1, 1997 through July 1, 1998. Bibliographic entries for 1997 and 1998 to date (July 1998) are included. The SAMPEX science team was extremely active, with 20 articles published or submitted to refereed journals, 11 papers published in their entirety in Conference Proceedings, and 49 contributed papers, seminars, and miscellaneous presentations. The bibliography at the end of this report constitutes the primary description of the research activity. Science highlights are given under the major activity headings, as well as other activities of the team.

Mason, G. M.↗

Injector Design Tool Improvements: User's manual for FDNS V.4.5

The major emphasis of the current effort is in the development and validation of an efficient parallel machine computational model, based on the FDNS code, to analyze the fluid dynamics of a wide variety of liquid jet configurations for general liquid rocket engine injection system applications. This model includes physical models for droplet atomization, breakup/coalescence, evaporation, turbulence mixing and gas-phase combustion. Benchmark validation cases for liquid rocket engine chamber combustion conditions will be performed for model validation purpose. Test cases may include shear coaxial, swirl coaxial and impinging injection systems with combinations LOXIH2 or LOXISP-1 propellant injector elements used in rocket engine designs. As a final goal of this project, a well tested parallel CFD performance methodology together with a user's operation description in a final technical report will be reported at the end of the proposed research effort.

Chen, Yen-Sen↗

Solar Cycle Dynamics of Solar, Magnetospheric, and Heliospheric Particles, and Long-Term Atmospheric Coupling: SAMPEX

This final technical report summarizes science analysis activities by the SAMPEX mission science team during the period July 1, 1995 through September 30, 2000. Bibliographic entries for 1995 to date (October 2000) are included. The SAMPEX science team was extremely active, with 72 articles published or submitted to referred journals, 38 papers published in their entirety in Conference Proceedings, and 260 contributed papers, seminars, and miscellaneous presentations. The bibliography at the end of this report constitutes the primary description of the research activity. Science highlights are given under the major activity headings, as well as other activities of the team. One Ph.D. student, Mr. Daniel Williams, completed his thesis at California Institute of Technology based on data from the MAST instrument.

Mason, G. M.↗

Side-On N 2 Binding and Reduction by a Heterotetrametallic Zr 2 Co 2 Cluster

In multimetallic compounds, N 2 typically bridges late transition metals in an end-on (η 1 :η 1 ) fashion while early transition metals often bind N 2 side-on (η 2 ), with the latter resulting in more significant N–N bond elongation. In this work, N 2 fixation is accomplished by using a well-defined scaffold featuring a heterobimetallic combination of Zr and Co. We report a heterotetrametallic Zr 2 Co 2 cluster in which N 2 is bound side-on to the two Co centers and end-on to Zr in a μ 3 -η 1 :η 2 :η 2 binding mode that defies established paradigms for N 2 binding. The heterometallic approach is shown to facilitate catalytic reductive silylation of N 2 with turnover numbers far exceeding those of reported cobalt catalysts.

catalysts↗