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NASA NTRS2015

Constraints on the Gas Content of the Fomalhaut Debris Belt: Can Gas-Dust Interactions Explain the Belt's Morphology?

Context. The 440 Myr old main-sequence A-star Fomalhaut is surrounded by an eccentric debris belt with sharp edges. This sort of a morphology is usually attributed to planetary perturbations, but the orbit of the only planetary candidate detected so far, Fomalhaut b, is too eccentric to efficiently shape the belt. Alternative models that could account for the morphology without invoking a planet are stellar encounters and gas-dust interactions. Aims. We aim to test the possibility of gas-dust interactions as the origin of the observed morphology by putting upper limits on the total gas content of the Fomalhaut belt. Methods. We derive upper limits on the CII158 microns and OI 63 microns emission by using non-detections from the Photodetector Array Camera and Spectrometer (PACS) onboard the Herschel Space Observatory. Line fluxes are converted into total gas mass using the non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (non-LTE) code radex. We consider two different cases for the elemental abundances of the gas: solar abundances and abundances similar to those observed for the gas in the Beta Pictoris debris disc. Results. The gas mass is shown to be below the millimetre dust mass by a factor of at least approx. 3 (for solar abundances) respectively approx. 300 (for Beta Pic-like abundances). Conclusions. The lack of gas co-spatial with the dust implies that gas-dust interactions cannot efficiently shape the Fomalhaut debris belt. The morphology is therefore more likely due to a yet unseen planet (Fomalhaut c) or stellar encounters.

Fomalhaut b↗

NASA NTRS2014

Thermophysical Property Variations Across Dione and Rhea

Maps of the variation in bolometric Bond albedo and thermal inertia across Rhea and Dione have been produced using various day and nighttime observations, taken by Cassini's Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS). The albedo maps show the same trend that has been previously observed on these satellites from reflected sunlight and thermal observations: a higher albedo on their leading hemispheres. The thermal inertia maps show two previously unknown anomalous high thermal inertia regions: low latitudes on Dione's leading hemisphere and the bright ejecta blanket of Rhea's Inktomi crater. The thermal inertia on Dione increases modestly from a background value of 8 J m(exp -2) K(exp -1) s(exp -1/2) to 11 J m(exp -)2 K(exp -1) s(exp -1/2) in a region preferentially bombarded by high-energy electrons. We believe that this region on Dione is probably analogous to the thermally anomalous regions recently discovered at equivalent locations on Mimas and Tethys, dubbed Pac-Man features. The smaller magnitude of Dione's thermal anomaly, compared to that of Mimas and Tethys, provides additional evidence that surface alteration by high-energy electrons produces these anomalies, as the high-energy electron flux decreases with increasing distance from Saturn. However, unlike on Mimas and Tethys, the thermally anomalous region on Dione does not display a spatially correlated decrease in the IR/UV (0.930 micrometers/0.338 micrometers) color ratio, implying that the minimum electron energy threshold of the IR/UV ice surface darkening mechanism is not met on Dione. The average of the mapped bolometric Bond albedos on the leading and trailing hemispheres of Dione are 0.49 +/- 0.11 and 0.44 +/- 0.13 respectively. On Rhea the thermal inertia increases from a background value of 10 J m(exp -2) K (exp -1) s(exp -1/2) to 19 J m(exp -2) K(exp -1) s(exp -1/2) on the ejecta blanket of Inktomi crater, probably due to a mixture of high and low thermal inertia material in this region, such as a fine- and large-grain ice mixture. This is the first time a thermal inertia anomaly has been associated with an impact crater on an icy saturnian satellite. On Rhea the average of the mapped bolometric Bond albedos on the leading and trailing hemispheres are 0.59 +/- 0.11 and 0.56 +/- 0.13 respectively.

Saturn↗

NASA NTRS2014

Airborne Polarimeter Intercomparison for the NASA Aerosols-Clouds-Ecosystems (ACE) Mission

The Aerosols-Clouds-Ecosystems (ACE) mission, recommended by the National Research Council's Decadal Survey, calls for a multi-angle, multi-spectral polarimeter devoted to observations of atmospheric aerosols and clouds. In preparation for ACE, NASA funds the deployment of airborne polarimeters, including the Airborne Multi-angle SpectroPolarimeter Imager (AirMSPI), the Passive Aerosol and Cloud Suite (PACS) and the Research Scanning Polarimeter (RSP). These instruments have been operated together on NASA's ER-2 high altitude aircraft as part of field campaigns such as the POlarimeter DEfinition EXperiment (PODEX) (California, early 2013) and Studies of Emissions and Atmospheric Composition, Clouds and Climate Coupling by Regional Surveys (SEAC4RS, California and Texas, summer 2013). Our role in these efforts has been to serve as an assessment team performing level 1 (calibrated radiance, polarization) and level 2 (retrieved geophysical parameter) instrument intercomparisons, and to promote unified and generalized calibration, uncertainty assessment and retrieval techniques. We will present our progress in this endeavor thus far and describe upcoming research in 2015.

ACE↗

NASA NTRS2014

Progress in Airborne Polarimeter Inter Comparison for the NASA Aerosols-Clouds-Ecosystems (ACE) Mission

The Aerosols-Clouds-Ecosystems (ACE) mission, recommended by the National Research Council's Decadal Survey, calls for a multi-angle, multi-spectral polarimeter devoted to observations of atmospheric aerosols and clouds. In preparation for ACE, NASA funds the deployment of airborne polarimeters, including the Airborne Multiangle SpectroPolarimeter Imager (AirMSPI), the Passive Aerosol and Cloud Suite (PACS) and the Research Scanning Polarimeter (RSP). These instruments have been operated together on NASA's ER-2 high altitude aircraft as part of field campaigns such as the POlarimeter DEfinition EXperiment (PODEX) (California, early 2013) and Studies of Emissions and Atmospheric Composition, Clouds and Climate Coupling by Regional Surveys (SEAC4RS, California and Texas, summer 2013). Our role in these efforts has been to serve as an assessment team performing level 1 (calibrated radiance, polarization) and level 2 (retrieved geophysical parameter) instrument intercomparisons, and to promote unified and generalized calibration, uncertainty assessment and retrieval techniques. We will present our progress in this endeavor thus far and describe upcoming research in 2015.

Airborne↗

NASA NTRS2016

On the Nature of the Enigmatic Object IRAS 19312+1950: A Rare Phase of Massive Star Formation?

IRAS19312+1950 is a peculiar object that has eluded firm characterization since its discovery, with combined maser properties similar to an evolved star and a young stellar object (YSO). To help determine its true nature, we obtained infrared spectra of IRAS19312+1950 in the range 5-550 microns using the Herschel and Spitzer space observatories. The Herschel PACS maps exhibit a compact, slightly asymmetric continuum source at 170 microns, indicative of a large, dusty circumstellar envelope. The far-IR CO emission line spectrum reveals two gas temperature components: approx. = 0.22 Stellar Mass of material at 280+/-18 K, and ≈1.6 Me of material at 157+/-3 K. The OI 63 micron line is detected on-source but no significant emission from atomic ions was found. The HIFI observations display shocked, high-velocity gas with outflow speeds up to 90 km/s along the line of sight. From Spitzer spectroscopy, we identify ice absorption bands due to H2O at 5.8 microns and CO2 at 15 microns. The spectral energy distribution is consistent with a massive, luminous (approx. 2 × 10(exp 4) Stellar Luminosity) central source surrounded by a dense, warm circumstellar disk and envelope of total mass approx. 500-700 Stellar Mass with large bipolar outflow cavities. The combination of distinctive far-IR spectral features suggest that IRAS19312+1950 should be classified as an accreting, high-mass YSO rather than an evolved star. In light of this reclassification, IRAS19312+1950 becomes only the fifth high-mass protostar known to exhibit SiO maser activity, and demonstrates that 18 cm OH maser line ratios may not be reliable observational discriminators between evolved stars and YSOs.

ISM: molecules aEuro" masers aEuro" stars↗

NASA NTRS2014

Potential Multi-Component Structure of the Debris Disk Around HIP 17439 Revealed by Herschel DUNES

Context. The dust observed in debris disks is produced through collisions of larger bodies left over from the planet/planetesimal formation process. Spatially resolving these disks permits to constrain their architecture and thus that of the underlying planetary/planetesimal system. Aims. Our Herschel open time key program DUNES aims at detecting and characterizing debris disks around nearby, sun-like stars. In addition to the statistical analysis of the data, the detailed study of single objects through spatially resolving the disk and detailed modeling of the data is a main goal of the project. Methods. We obtained the first observations spatially resolving the debris disk around the sun-like star HIP 17439 (HD 23484) using the instruments PACS and SPIRE on board the Herschel Space Observatory. Simultaneous multi-wavelength modeling of these data together with ancillary data from the literature is presented. Results. A standard single component disk model fails to reproduce the major axis radial profiles at 70 μm, 100 μm, and 160 μm simultaneously. Moreover, the best-fit parameters derived from such a model suggest a very broad disk extending from few au up to few hundreds of au from the star with a nearly constant surface density which seems physically unlikely. However, the constraints from both the data and our limited theoretical investigation are not strong enough to completely rule out this model. An alternative, more plausible, and better fitting model of the system consists of two rings of dust at approx. 30 au and 90 au, respectively, while the constraints on the parameters of this model are weak due to its complexity and intrinsic degeneracies. Conclusions. The disk is probably composed of at least two components with different spatial locations (but not necessarily detached), while a single, broad disk is possible, but less likely. The two spatially well-separated rings of dust in our best-fit model suggest the presence of at least one high mass planet or several low-mass planets clearing the region between the two rings from planetesimals and dust.

sun-like stars↗

NASA NTRS2020

Eta Carinae & the Homunculus: Far Infrared Sub-millimeter Spectral Lines detected with the Herschel Space Observatory

The evolved massive binary star η Carinae underwent eruptive mass loss events that formed the complex bi-polar “Homunculus” nebula harboring tens of solar masses of unusually nitrogen-rich gas and dust. Despite expectations for the presence of a significant molecular component to the gas, detections have been observationally challenged by limited access to the far-infrared and the intense thermal continuum. A spectral survey of the atomic and rotational molecular transitions was carried out with theHerschel Space Observatory, revealing a rich spectrum of broad emission lines originating in the ejecta. Velocity profiles of selected PACS lines correlate well with known substructures: Hi in the central core; NH and weak [Cii] within the Homunculus; and [Nii] emissions in fast-moving structures external to the Homunculus.We have identified transitions from [Oi], Hi, and 18 separate light C- and O-bearing molecules including CO, CH, CH+, and OH, and a wide set of N-bearing molecules,NH, NH+, N2H+, NH2, NH3, HCN, HNC, CN, and N2H+. Half of these are new detections unprecedented for any early-type massive star environment. A very low ratio[12C/13C]≤4 is estimated from five molecules and their isotopologues. We demonstrate that non-LTE effects due to the strong continuum are significant. Abundance patterns are consistent with line formation in regions of carbon and oxygen depletions with nitrogen enhancements, reflecting an evolved state of the erupting star with efficient transport of CNO-processed material to the outer layers. The results offer many opportunities for further observational and theoretical investigations of the molecular chemistry under extreme physical and chemical conditions around massive stars in their final stages of evolution.

T. R. Gull↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Exposure of Plant Seeds to the Space Environment outside the International Space Station

If crop seeds are to be stored on space vehicles for long-duration missions, the effects of the space environment on the seeds must be understood for developing mitigation strategies to prevent seed degradation. The MISSE-Seed project was designed to investigate the effects of space exposure on seed quality and storage. The project also tested the Materials International Space Station Experiment (MISSE) platform for exposing biological samples to the space environment and evaluated the capability of a newly designed passive sample containment vessel for the provision of acceptable storage conditions for seeds, or other biological samples, to be preserved upon exposure to the space environment outside the ISS. The experiment was launched to the ISS on NG-15and returned to Earth aboard SpX-24. The specimens consisted of eleven seed varieties (Lettuce, Scarlet Frills, Amara, Garnet Giant, Pac Choi, Radish, Mizuna, Tomato, Cauliflower, Pepper, and Arabidopsis). The exposure lasted eight months outside the ISS in the MISSE hardware at the Zenith position. Data-loggers and thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) were included in each container to record the environmental data. Temperature profiles and radiation/UV exposure data were also provided by Aegis Aerospace, the MISSE Implementation Partner. In this presentation, the hardware and experimental design, the environmental profiles, and the results of post-flight germination tests will be presented.

Jeffrey T Richards↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Exposure of Plant Seeds to the Space Environment Outside the International Space Station

Jeffrey T Richards↗

NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Exposure of Plant Seeds to the Space Environment Outside the International Space Station

Crop seeds may prove to be a vital component of future long-term spaceflight missions, and the impacts of extended exposure on seed degradation is not well understood. The MISSE-Seed project was designed to investigate the effects of space exposure on seed quality and storage. The project also served as a test of biological materials aboard the Materials International Space Station Experiment (MISSE) platform, and evaluated the capability of a newly designed passive sample containment vessel for the provision of acceptable storage conditions for seed and other biological samples to be preserved upon exposure to the space environment outside the ISS. MISSE-Seed was launched to the ISS on NG-15 in July of 2021 and returned to Earth aboard SpX-24 after approximately 8 months of exposure to the space environment. The specimens consisted of eleven seed varieties (Lettuce, Scarlet Frills, Amara, Garnet Giant, Pac Choi, Radish, Mizuna, Tomato, Cauliflower, Pepper, and Arabidopsis). Data-loggers and thermoluminescent dosimeters (TLDs) were included in each container to record environmental data. Temperature profiles and radiation/UV exposure data were also provided by Aegis Aerospace, the MISSE Implementation Partner. Hardware and experimental design, environmental profiles, and post-flight germination and growth results will be presented.

Alexander D Meyers↗

DOE OSTI2011

Charm quark system at the physical point of 2+1 flavor lattice QCD

We investigate the charm quark system using the relativistic heavy quark action on 2+1 flavor PACS-CS configurations previously generated on 32{sup 3} x 64 lattice. The dynamical up, down, and strange quark masses are set to the physical values by using the technique of reweighting to shift the quark-hopping parameters from the values employed in the configuration generation. At the physical point, the lattice spacing equals a{sup -1} = 2.194(10) GeV and the spatial extent L = 2.88(1) fm. The charm quark mass is determined by the spin-averaged mass of the 1S charmonium state, from which we obtain m{sub charm}{sup M{bar S}} ({mu} = m{sub charm}{sup M{bar S}}) = 1.260(1)(6)(35) GeV, where the errors are due to our statistics, scale determination and renormalization factor. An additional systematic error from the heavy quark is of order {alpha}{sub s}{sup 2}f(m{sub Q}a)(a{Lambda}{sub QCD}), f(m{sub Q}a)(a{Lambda}{sub QCD}){sup 2}, which are estimated to be a percent level if the factor f(m{sub Q}a) analytic in m{sub Q}a is of order unity. Our results for the charmed and charmed-strange meson decay constants are f{sub D} = 226(6)(1)(5) MeV, f{sub D}{sub s} = 257(2)(1)(5) MeV, again up to the heavy quark errors of order {alpha}{sub s}{sup 2}f(m{sub Q}a)(a{Lambda}{sub QCD}), f(m{sub Q}a)(a{Lambda}{sub QCD}){sup 2}. Combined with the CLEO values for the leptonic decay widths, these values yield |V{sub cd}| = 0.205(6)(1)(5)(9), |V{sub cs}| = 1.00(1)(1)(3)(3), where the last error is because of the experimental uncertainty of the decay widths.

2+1↗

DOE OSTI2012

Modelling of the AGS using Zgoubi - Status

This paper summarizes the progress achieved so far, and discusses various outcomes, regarding the development of a model of the Alternating Gradient Synchrotron at the RHIC collider. The model, based on stepwise ray-tracing methods, includes beam and polarization dynamics. This is an on-going work, and a follow-on of code developments and particle and spin dynamics simulations that have been subject to earlier publications at IPAC and PAC [1, 2, 3]. A companion paper [4] gives additional informations, regarding the use of the measured magnetic field maps of the AGS main magnets.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

DOE OSTI2012

Electronic Medical Business Operations System

Electronic Management of medical records has taken a back seat both in private industry and in the government. Record volumes continue to rise every day and management of these paper records is inefficient and very expensive. In 2005, the White House announced support for the development of electronic medical records across the federal government. In 2006, the DOE issued 10 CFR 851 requiring all medical records be electronically available by 2015. The Y-12 National Security Complex is currently investing funds to develop a comprehensive EMR to incorporate the requirements of an occupational health facility which are common across the Nuclear Weapons Complex (NWC). Scheduling, workflow, and data capture from medical surveillance, certification, and qualification examinations are core pieces of the system. The Electronic Medical Business Operations System (EMBOS) will provide a comprehensive health tool solution to 10 CFR 851 for Y-12 and can be leveraged to the Nuclear Weapon Complex (NWC); all site in the NWC must meet the requirements of 10 CFR 851 which states that all medical records must be electronically available by 2015. There is also potential to leverage EMBOS to the private4 sector. EMBOS is being developed and deployed in phases. When fully deployed the EMBOS will be a state-of-the-art web-enabled integrated electronic solution providing a complete electronic medical record (EMR). EMBOS has been deployed and provides a dynamic electronic medical history and surveillance program (e.g., Asbestos, Hearing Conservation, and Respirator Wearer) questionnaire. Table 1 below lists EMBOS capabilities and data to be tracked. Data to be tracked: Patient Demographics Current/Historical; Physical Examination Data; Employee Medical Health History; Medical Surveillance Programs; Patient and Provider Schedules; Medical Qualification/Certifications; Laboratory Data; Standardized Abnormal Lab Notifications; Prescription Medication Tracking and Dispensing; Allergies; Non-Occupational Illness and Injury Visits; Occupational Recommendations/Restrictions; Diagnosis/Vital Signs/Blood Pressures; Immunizations; Return to Work Visits Capabilities: Targeted Health Assessments; Patient Input Capabilities for Questionnaires; Medical Health History; Surveillance Programs; Human Reliability Program; Scheduling; Automated Patient Check-in/Check-out; Provider & Patient Workflow; Laboratory Interface & Device Integration; Human Reliability Program Processing; Interoperability with SAP, IH, IS, RADCON; Coding: ICED-9/10; Desktop Integration; Interface/Storage of Digital X-Rays (PACS)

Cannon, D. T.↗

DOE OSTI2016

Mercury removal sorbents

Sorbents and methods of using them for removing mercury from flue gases over a wide range of temperatures are disclosed. Sorbent materials of this invention comprise oxy- or hydroxyl-halogen (chlorides and bromides) of manganese, copper and calcium as the active phase for Hg.sup.0 oxidation, and are dispersed on a high surface porous supports. In addition to the powder activated carbons (PACs), this support material can be comprised of commercial ceramic supports such as silica (SiO.sub.2), alumina (Al.sub.2O.sub.3), zeolites and clays. The support material may also comprise of oxides of various metals such as iron, manganese, and calcium. The non-carbon sorbents of the invention can be easily injected into the flue gas and recovered in the Particulate Control Device (PCD) along with the fly ash without altering the properties of the by-product fly ash enabling its use as a cement additive. Sorbent materials of this invention effectively remove both elemental and oxidized forms of mercury from flue gases and can be used at elevated temperatures. The sorbent combines an oxidation catalyst and a sorbent in the same particle to both oxidize the mercury and then immobilize it.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗

DOE OSTI2012

Rare decay searches at CDF

In the last decade the CDF experiment at the Tevatron clearly demonstrated that it is possible to study extensively heavy flavour physics in hadron collisions and achieve remarkable results, competitive and complementary to $B$-factories. In this paper we report on the indirect searches for physics beyond the standard model via measurements of rare $b$-hadron decays. The final limits, based on the analysis of the full CDF data set, on the branching fraction of the $B^0_{(s)}$ decay into a pair of muons are presented and discussed. Moreover we review the latest measurements, with 6.8 fb$^{-1}$ of collected data, of the total and differential branching fractions and angular observables of rare $b$-hadron decays proceeding via the flavour-changing neutral-current process $b \rightarrow s \mu^+ \mu^-$. PACS numbers: 13.20.He, 13.30.-a, 12.15.Mn

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2015

Systems-based approach to understanding Technetium immobilization in the subsurface - 15326

The purpose of this work is to identify the chemical and biological reactions that occur and potentially influence the mobility of Technetium (Tc-99) in the subsurface. Tc-99 is a by-product of nuclear fission processes and has a relatively long half-life (t{sub 1/2}=212,000 years); additionally, it is highly soluble and mobile in groundwater and is most often remediated through pump and treat systems. The oxidized form of Tc-99 [Pertechnetate, Tc(VII)O{sub 4}-] is highly soluble and very mobile, while the reduced form of Tc-99 [Technetium-oxide, Tc(IV)O{sub 2}·nH{sub 2}O] is insoluble. Historically, complex interactions within the subsurface have made clean-up efforts for Tc-99 challenging. It is thought that environmental bacteria play a role in reducing contaminants to less soluble forms but it is difficult to predict or estimate the interactions and impacts of the complex, mixed microbial communities found in the environment. We have set up controlled batch experiments to examine a selection of organisms (Anaeromyxobacter dehalogenans strain CP-C, Geobacter sulfurreducens strain PAC, Geobacter daltonii strain FRC-32, and Shewanella oneidensis strain MR1) that have known metal reducing capabilities, for their ability to reduce Tc-99 to less soluble forms. An additional organism, Cellulomonas strain ES6 was chosen based on its origin of isolation from the Hanford site. Organisms were evaluated under anaerobic conditions both as isolates and in mixed consortia with and without the presence of iron-bearing mineral substrate. Experiments were monitored using spectroscopy, qPCR, volatile organic acid (VOA) analysis, and inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and mass spectrometer techniques (ICP-MS). Initial data collected has shown that the presence and type of substrate may increase the reduction of Tc-99 to less mobile forms. Data collected from these experiments will allow for (a) a better understanding of the mobility of Tc-99 in the subsurface, (b) better predictions of contaminant fate and transport over time, and (c) the development of long term remediation strategies for Tc-99. Additionally, information collected will be used to develop a systems-based metabolic model with predictive capabilities. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

DOE OSTI2019

Use of an ISOCS-based Waste Assay System for Decommissioning Waste at Trawsfynydd - 19526

Magnox UK Ltd. are decommissioning the former Magnox nuclear power stations in the UK, a process that generates a significant amount of radioactive waste, much of it in the Low Level or Very Low Level categories. It is therefore necessary to perform radiometric assay of the decommissioning waste in order to determine the disposal route and to identify items of waste that are Out of Scope of regulatory control and can therefore be free-released. They have recently commissioned a Canberra On Site Assay System (OSAS) for this purpose. OSAS is a high-resolution gamma-ray spectrometry based waste assay system, which makes use of the ISOCS methodology in order to perform the necessary efficiency calibration of the system for use when assaying the various different containers for the decommissioning waste employed at Trawsfynydd: 210 litre drums, Dolav boxes, wheeled bins and Pac-Tec bulk bags of heavier waste. This publication describes the approach used by Magnox in the processing of the decommissioning waste at Trawsfynydd. It also presents details of the OSAS system and how it was calibrated along with the results from the proof testing of the new system, involving comparison with the results from the assay of waste previously assayed using other monitors. (authors)

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗

DOE OSTI2023

Plasma-Coupled Flow Reactor Studies of Low-Temperature Plasma Assisted Kinetics of Methanol Blended with CO2

Ignition technologies based on low-temperature plasmas (LTP) have the potential to operate next generation engines at elevated pressures and increased dilution limits promoting higher efficiencies. From a practical standpoint, research on LTP igniters has shown to enhance combustion and ignition, improve flame stability, and extend the dilution limits of combustion. All of the aforementioned gains are complemented with higher ignition efficiencies. However, the biggest challenge with incorporating this technology into engines is the knowledge gap of how exactly plasma chemistry effects can enhance the basic combustion phenomena. This coupled with the lack of validated kinetic mechanisms for plasma-combustion chemistry is the biggest obstruction to recognize efficient ignition, especially for application relevant fuels and biofuels. In order to comprehensively evaluate the effects of LTP on an oxygenated fuel specific system, this present study examines the kinetics of methanol plasma-assisted pyrolysis and oxidation using a custom-built plasma flow reactor (PFR). Experimental regimes are also further extended to understand the effects of adding CO2 to the mixture and its consequence on reaction kinetics. The PFR is installed with a dielectric-barrier discharge (DBD) configuration to induce LTP into the fuel mixture. Non-equilibrium plasmas are generated by high-voltage pulses (nearing 20 KV) administered by a plasma pulser at high-pulse repetition rates (up to 10 kHz). In order to better understand and isolate plasma chemistry and its effect on neutral chemistry, the experiments were carried out by heavily diluting reactive mixtures in nitrogen at near isothermal conditions. This suppresses the effect of exothermic reactions on chemistry allowing stable intermediates and products to be detected and quantified using ex-situ GC/MS diagnostic methods. Experiments were carried out at 0.5 atm pressure and over a wide range of temperatures from 523 K to 1203 K. Experimental results depicted the enhancement in intermediates production as well as overall lower temperatures required for complete fuel consumption in the plasma specific cases as opposed to their pure thermal counterpart. Formation of oxygenated and nitrile compounds specific to plasma assisted pyrolysis cases illustrated the efficacy of LTP to introduce new reaction pathways accelerating fuel decomposition. Increase in reactivity at lower temperatures is sought to be an effect induced by plasma chemistry postulating the acceleration in intermediates production. The onset of thermal ignition in plasma assisted oxidation is seen 200 K earlier than thermal oxidation highlighting efficient fuel conversion to final byproducts. Enhanced collisional processes afforded by LTP is seen to perturb reaction pathways between oxygenated fuel radicals and N-atoms to alter overall chemical reactivity. New insights into kinetics are gained from this study highlighting governing plasma assisted combustion (PAC) pathways for oxygenated fuel reaction chemistry. The results from this study can be used to develop future mechanisms specific to plasma chemistry which can bridge the mechanistic knowledge gap for LTP ignition so that future engines can adopt LTPs in their design for efficient combustion.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗