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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 379 records · Page 21
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2013

Islands stretch test for measuring the interfacial fracture energy between a hard film and a soft substrate

We present a technique for measuring the interfacial fracture energy, {Gamma}{sub i}, between a hard thin film and a soft substrate. A periodic array of hard thin islands is fabricated on a soft substrate, which is then subjected to uniaxial tension under an optical microscope. When the applied strain reaches a critical value, delamination between the islands and the substrate starts from the edge of the islands. As the strain is increased, the interfacial cracks grow in a stable fashion. At a given applied strain, the width of the delaminated region is a unique function of the interfacial fracture energy. We have calculated the energy release rate driving the delamination as a function of delamination width, island size, island thickness, and applied strain. For a given materials system, this relationship allows determination of the interfacial fracture energy from a measurement of the delamination width. The technique is demonstrated by measuring the interfacial fracture energy of plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition SiN{sub x} islands on a polyimide substrate. We anticipate that this technique will find application in the flexible electronics industry where hard islands on soft substrates are a common architecture to protect active devices from fracture.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2013

Effects of sequential tungsten and helium ion implantation on nano-indentation hardness of tungsten

To simulate neutron and helium damage in a fusion reactor first wall sequential self-ion implantation up to 13 dpa followed by helium-ion implantation up to 3000 appm was performed to produce damaged layers of {approx}2 {mu}m depth in pure tungsten. The hardness of these layers was measured using nanoindentation and was studied using transmission electron microscopy. Substantial hardness increases were seen in helium implanted regions, with smaller hardness increases in regions which had already been self-ion implanted, thus, containing pre-existing dislocation loops. This suggests that, for the same helium content, helium trapped in distributed vacancies gives stronger hardening than helium trapped in vacancies condensed into dislocation loops.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2014

Study of runaway electrons using dosimetry of hard x-ray radiations in Damavand tokamak

In this work several studies have been conducted on hard x-ray emissions of Damavand tokamak based on radiation dosimetry using the Thermoluminescence method. The goal was to understand interactions of runaway electrons with plasma particles, vessel wall, and plasma facing components. Total of 354 GR-200 (LiF:Mg,Cu,P) thermoluminescence dosimeter (TLD) crystals have been placed on 118 points – three TLDs per point – to map hard x-ray radiation doses on the exterior of the vacuum vessel. Results show two distinctive levels of x-ray radiations doses on the exterior of the vessel. The low-dose area on which measured dose is about 0.5 mSv/shot. In the low-dose area there is no particular component inside the vessel. On the contrary, on high-dose area of the vessel, x-ray radiations dose exceeds 30 mSv/shot. The high-dose area coincides with the position of limiters, magnetic probe ducts, and vacuum vessel intersections. Among the high-dose areas, the highest level of dose is measured in the position of the limiter, which could be due to its direct contact with the plasma column and with runaway electrons. Direct collisions of runaway electrons with the vessel wall and plasma facing components make a major contribution for production of hard x-ray photons in Damavand tokamak.

61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY↗
DOE OSTI2014

Bulk sensitive hard x-ray photoemission electron microscopy

Hard x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (HAXPES) has now matured into a well-established technique as a bulk sensitive probe of the electronic structure due to the larger escape depth of the highly energetic electrons. In order to enable HAXPES studies with high lateral resolution, we have set up a dedicated energy-filtered hard x-ray photoemission electron microscope (HAXPEEM) working with electron kinetic energies up to 10 keV. It is based on the NanoESCA design and also preserves the performance of the instrument in the low and medium energy range. In this way, spectromicroscopy can be performed from threshold to hard x-ray photoemission. The high potential of the HAXPEEM approach for the investigation of buried layers and structures has been shown already on a layered and structured SrTiO{sub 3} sample. Here, we present results of experiments with test structures to elaborate the imaging and spectroscopic performance of the instrument and show the capabilities of the method to image bulk properties. Additionally, we introduce a method to determine the effective attenuation length of photoelectrons in a direct photoemission experiment.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2015

Beyond packing of hard spheres: The effects of core softness, non-additivity, intermediate-range repulsion, and many-body interactions on the glass-forming ability of bulk metallic glasses

When a liquid is cooled well below its melting temperature at a rate that exceeds the critical cooling rate R{sub c}, the crystalline state is bypassed and a metastable, amorphous glassy state forms instead. R{sub c} (or the corresponding critical casting thickness d{sub c}) characterizes the glass-forming ability (GFA) of each material. While silica is an excellent glass-former with small R{sub c} < 10{sup −2} K/s, pure metals and most alloys are typically poor glass-formers with large R{sub c} > 10{sup 10} K/s. Only in the past thirty years have bulk metallic glasses (BMGs) been identified with R{sub c} approaching that for silica. Recent simulations have shown that simple, hard-sphere models are able to identify the atomic size ratio and number fraction regime where BMGs exist with critical cooling rates more than 13 orders of magnitude smaller than those for pure metals. However, there are a number of other features of interatomic potentials beyond hard-core interactions. How do these other features affect the glass-forming ability of BMGs? In this manuscript, we perform molecular dynamics simulations to determine how variations in the softness and non-additivity of the repulsive core and form of the interatomic pair potential at intermediate distances affect the GFA of binary alloys. These variations in the interatomic pair potential allow us to introduce geometric frustration and change the crystal phases that compete with glass formation. We also investigate the effect of tuning the strength of the many-body interactions from zero to the full embedded atom model on the GFA for pure metals. We then employ the full embedded atom model for binary BMGs and show that hard-core interactions play the dominant role in setting the GFA of alloys, while other features of the interatomic potential only change the GFA by one to two orders of magnitude. Despite their perturbative effect, understanding the detailed form of the intermetallic potential is important for designing BMGs with cm or greater casting thickness.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2016

Development of Compton X-ray spectrometer for high energy resolution single-shot high-flux hard X-ray spectroscopy

Hard X-ray spectroscopy is an essential diagnostics used to understand physical processes that take place in high energy density plasmas produced by intense laser-plasma interactions. A bundle of hard X-ray detectors, of which the responses have different energy thresholds, is used as a conventional single-shot spectrometer for high-flux (>10{sup 13} photons/shot) hard X-rays. However, high energy resolution (Δhv/hv < 0.1) is not achievable with a differential energy threshold (DET) X-ray spectrometer because its energy resolution is limited by energy differences between the response thresholds. Experimental demonstration of a Compton X-ray spectrometer has already been performed for obtaining higher energy resolution than that of DET spectrometers. In this paper, we describe design details of the Compton X-ray spectrometer, especially dependence of energy resolution and absolute response on photon-electron converter design and its background reduction scheme, and also its application to the laser-plasma interaction experiment. The developed spectrometer was used for spectroscopy of bremsstrahlung X-rays generated by intense laser-plasma interactions using a 200 μm thickness SiO{sub 2} converter. The X-ray spectrum obtained with the Compton X-ray spectrometer is consistent with that obtained with a DET X-ray spectrometer, furthermore higher certainly of a spectral intensity is obtained with the Compton X-ray spectrometer than that with the DET X-ray spectrometer in the photon energy range above 5 MeV.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2015

Progress of nanopositioning stages development for hard x-ray nanofocusing and coherence preservation optics at the APS

Customized flexure mechanisms and precision thermal expansion compensation are needed for the development of nanopositioning stages for hard x-ray nanofocusing and coherence preservation optics at the APS. Recent progress of such stage development is summarized in this paper, which includes: stages designed for alignment apparatus for K-B mirrors with 20 - 50 nm focal spot; alignment apparatus for six Fresnel zone plates stacking with 20 nm focal spot; stages for switchable multiple nanofocusing system; UHV hard x-ray monochromators for coherence related applications; and four-crystal hard x-ray split-and-delay line with coherence preservation. Preliminary test results for mechanical performance of these nanopositioning stages are also discussed in this paper.

77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2016

Ultra-fast LuI{sub 3}:Ce scintillators for hard x-ray imaging

We have developed ultra-fast cerium-coped lutetium-iodide (LuI{sub 3}:Ce) films thermally evaporated as polycrystalline, structured scintillator using hot wall epitaxy (HWE) method. The films have shown a 13 ns decay compared to the 28 ns reported for crystals. The fast speed coupled with its high density (∼5.6 g/cm{sup 3}), high effective atomic number (59.7), and the fact that it can be vapor deposited in a columnar form makes LuI{sub 3}:Ce an attractive candidate for high frame rate, high-resolution, hard X-ray imaging. In crystal form, LuI{sub 3}:Ce has demonstrated bright (>100,000 photons/MeV) green (540 nm) emission, which is well matched to commercial CCD/CMOS sensors and is critical for maintaining high signal to noise ratio in light starved applications. Here, we report on the scintillation properties of films and those for corresponding crystalline material. The vapor grown films were integrated into a high-speed CMOS imager to demonstrate high-speed radiography capability. The films were also tested at Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory beamline 1-ID under hard X-ray irradiation. The data show a factor of four higher efficiency than the reference LuAG:Ce scintillators, high image quality, and linearity of scintillation response over a wide energy range. The films were employed to perform hard X-ray microtomography, the results of which will also be discussed.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2016

Calibration of a time-resolved hard-x-ray detector using radioactive sources

A four-channel, time-resolved, hard x-ray detector (HXRD) has been operating at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics for more than a decade. The slope temperature of the hot-electron population in direct-drive inertial confinement fusion experiments is inferred by recording the hard x-ray radiation generated in the interaction of the electrons with the target. Measuring the energy deposited by hot electrons requires an absolute calibration of the hard x-ray detector. A novel method to obtain an absolute calibration of the HXRD using single photons from radioactive sources was developed, which uses a thermoelectrically cooled, low-noise, charge-sensitive amplifier.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2018

Gallium nitride (GaN) devices as a platform technology for radiation hard inertial confinement fusion diagnostics

Inertial Confinement Fusion (ICF) is undergoing more detailed research to increase neutron yield and will require high resolution imaging near the target. Neutron damage to diagnostics remains a serious issue in understanding and achieving ICF. We have demonstrated that Gallium Nitride (GaN) optoelectronic devices have exceptional neutron radiation hardness, by systematic testing of neutron radiation effects in GaN devices and materials with elevated neutron fluence levels and a broad neutron energy spectrum. During the 2013-2017 run cycles at Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE), we irradiated various GaN materials and devices with fast and thermal plus resonance neutrons at several beamlines. This work presents a radiation hardness study for Aluminum Gallium Nitride and Gallium Nitride (AlGaN/GaN) deep UV LEDs irradiated at the LANSCE 4FP60R beamline. The fluence level was up to 2.4 × 10 13 neutrons/cm 2 for neutrons with energies greater than 0.1 MeV. The device performance was monitored in real time. After three years of irradiation studies, we found that the GaN devices maintained operation in the forward active region. The current and voltage relation (I-V curves) varied insignificantly in the linear region. Finally, our results demonstrate the radiation hardness needed for laser fusion diagnostics at least up to 10 17 neutron yield per shot, if the diagnostics is placed 1 m away from the target, where the neutron fluence per shot is approximately 8 × 10 11 n/cm 2 . The GaN devices can operate for multiple shots.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2024

Three-dimensional hard X-ray ptychographic reflectometry imaging on extended mesoscopic surface structures

Many nanodevices and quantum devices, with their sizes often spanning from millimeters down to sub-nanometer, have intricate low-dimensional, non-uniform, or hierarchical structures on surfaces and interfaces. Since their functionalities are dependent on these structures, high-resolution surface-sensitive characterization becomes imperative to gain a comprehensive understanding of the function–structure relationship. We thus developed hard x-ray ptychographic reflectometry imaging, a new technique that merges the high-resolution two-dimensional imaging capabilities of hard x-ray ptychography for extended objects, with the high-resolution depth profiling capabilities of x-ray reflectivity for layered structures. The synergy of these two methods fully leverages both amplitude and phase information from ptychography reconstruction to not only reveal surface topography and localized structures, such as shapes and electron densities, but also yields statistical details, such as interfacial roughness that is not readily accessible through coherent imaging solely. The hard x-ray ptychographic reflectometry imaging is well-suited for three-dimensional imaging of mesoscopic samples, particularly those comprising planar or layered nanostructures on opaque supports, and could also offer a high-resolution surface metrology and defect analysis on semiconductor devices, such as integrated nanocircuits and lithographic photomasks for microchip fabrications.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
DOE OSTI2024

Gallium oxide semiconductor-based large volume ultrafast radiation hard spectroscopic scintillators

We report on the development of the first-ever inorganic radiation-hard moisture-insensitive large volume spectroscopic semiconductor-based scintillator with less than 2 ns decay time and light yields as high as 8000 ph/MeV. Despite extensive research into scintillator materials, the quest for an ideal scintillator combining ultrafast decay times (akin to BaF 2 and Yb-doped scintillators such as Lu 2 O 3 :Yb), high light yields (exceeding 2000 photons per MeV), spectroscopic capabilities, and exceptional radiation hardness remain unfulfilled. In this study, we demonstrate and report for the first time the viability of large-volume (up to 20 mm thickness) gallium oxide (β-Ga 2 O 3 ) semiconductor-based scintillators for applications requiring these properties. These β-Ga 2 O 3 scintillators were grown using the fast turnaround (~2 days) crucible-free optical float zone (FZ) technique. The high light yield and ultrafast decay time of these high-purity n-type semiconductors with free carrier concentration of 6 × 10 17 cm –3 are attributed to native defects, specifically oxygen vacancies (V O ) and gallium–oxygen vacancy pairs (V Ga –V O ), generated during optimized FZ growth. The ultrafast decay, along with high light yield, enables excellent timing resolution and high count rate detection for applications like time-of-flight positron emission tomography, physics experiments, and nuclear safety. The radiation hardness of these devices has been documented in a separate publication.

12 MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE AND NON-RADIOACTIVE W↗
DOE OSTI2012

TEMPORAL AND SPECTRAL EVOLUTION IN X- AND {gamma}-RAYS OF MAGNETAR 1E 1547.0-5408 SINCE ITS 2008 OCTOBER OUTBURST: THE DISCOVERY OF A TRANSIENT HARD PULSED COMPONENT AFTER ITS 2009 JANUARY OUTBURST

The magnetar 1E 1547.0-5408 exhibited outbursts in 2008 October and 2009 January. In this paper, we present in great detail the evolution of the temporal and spectral characteristics of the persistent total and pulsed emission of 1E 1547.0-5408 between {approx}1 and 300 keV starting on 2008 October 3 and ending in 2011 January. We analyzed data collected with the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) the International Gamma-Ray Astrophysics Laboratory (INTEGRAL), and the Swift satellite. We report the evolution of the pulse frequency, and the measurement at the time of the onset of the 2009 January outburst of an insignificant jump in frequency, but a major frequency derivative jump {Delta}{nu}-dot of +(1.30 {+-} 0.14) Multiplication-Sign 10{sup -11} Hz s{sup -1} ({Delta}{nu}-dot/{nu}-dot of -0.69 {+-} 0.07). Before this {nu}-dot glitch, a single broad pulse is detected, mainly for energies below {approx}10 keV. Surprisingly, {approx}11 days after the glitch a new transient high-energy (up to {approx}150 keV) pulse appears with a Gaussian shape and width 0.23, shifted in phase by {approx}0.31 compared to the low-energy pulse, which smoothly fades to undetectable levels in {approx}350 days. We report the evolution of the pulsed-emission spectra. For energies 2.5-10 keV all pulsed spectra are very soft with photon indices {Gamma} between -4.6 and -3.9. For {approx}10-150 keV, after the {nu}-dot glitch, we report hard non-thermal pulsed spectra, similar to what has been reported for the persistent pulsed emission of some anomalous X-ray pulsars. This pulsed hard X-ray emission reached maximal luminosity 70 {+-} 30 days after the glitch epoch, followed by a gradual decrease by more than a factor of 10 over {approx}300 days. These characteristics differ from those of the total emission. Both, the total soft X-ray (1-10 keV) and hard X-ray (10-150 keV) fluxes, were maximal already 2 days after the 2009 January outburst, and decayed by a factor of {approx}>3 over {approx}400 days. The total spectra can be described with a blackbody (kT values varying in the range 0.57-0.74 keV) plus a single power-law model. The photon index exhibited a hardening ({approx} - 1.4 to {approx} - 0.9) with time, correlated with a decrease in flux in the 20-300 keV band. We discuss these findings in the framework of the magnetar model.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2012

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HARD X-RAY PULSE TIMINGS AND THE LOCATIONS OF FOOTPOINT SOURCES DURING SOLAR FLARES

The cause of quasi-periodic pulsations in solar flares remains the subject of debate. Recently, Nakariakov and Zimovets proposed a new model suggesting that, in two-ribbon flares, such pulsations could be explained by propagating slow waves. These waves may travel obliquely to the magnetic field, reflect in the chromosphere, and constructively interfere at a spatially separate site in the corona, leading to quasi-periodic reconnection events progressing along the flaring arcade. Such a slow wave regime would have certain observational characteristics. We search for evidence of this phenomenon during a selection of two-ribbon flares observed by the Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager, Solar and Heliospheric Observatory, and Transition Region and Coronal Explorer; the flares of 2002 November 9, 2005 January 19, and 2005 August 22. We were not able to observe a clear correlation between hard X-ray footpoint separations and pulse timings during these events. Also, the motion of hard X-ray footpoints is shown to be continuous within the observational error, whereas a discontinuous motion might be anticipated in the slow wave model. Finally, we find that for a preferential slow wave propagation angle of 25 Degree-Sign -28 Degree-Sign that is expected for the fastest waves, the velocities of the hard X-ray footpoints lead to estimated pulse periods and ribbon lengths significantly larger than the measured values. Hence, for the three events studied, we conclude that the observational characteristics cannot be easily explained via the Nakariakov and Zimovets propagating slow wave model when only angles of 25 Degree-Sign -28 Degree-Sign are considered. We provide suggested flare parameters to optimize future studies of this kind.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2012

SENSITIVITY OF STACKED IMAGING DETECTORS TO HARD X-RAY POLARIZATION

The development of multi-layer optics which allow to focus photons up to 100 keV and more promises an enormous jump in sensitivity in the hard X-ray energy band. This technology is already planned to be exploited by future missions dedicated to spectroscopy and imaging at energies >10 keV, e.g., Astro-H and NuSTAR. Nevertheless, our understanding of the hard X-ray sky would greatly benefit from carrying out contemporaneous polarimetric measurements, because the study of hard spectral tails and of polarized emission are often two complementary diagnostics of the same non-thermal and acceleration processes. At energies above a few tens of keV, the preferred technique to detect polarization involves the determination of photon directions after a Compton scattering. Many authors have asserted that stacked detectors with imaging capabilities can be exploited for this purpose. If it is possible to discriminate those events which initially interact in the first detector by Compton scattering and are subsequently absorbed by the second layer, then the direction of scattering is singled out from the hit pixels in the two detectors. In this paper, we give the first detailed discussion of the sensitivity of such a generic design to the X-ray polarization. The efficiency and the modulation factor are calculated analytically from the geometry of the instruments and then compared with the performance as derived by means of Geant4 Monte Carlo simulations.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2013

ON THE MECHANISM OF HARD X-RAY EMISSION FROM MAGNETARS

Persistent activity of magnetars is associated with electric discharge that continually injects relativistic particles into the magnetosphere. Large active magnetic loops around magnetars must be filled with outflowing particles that interact with radiation via resonant scattering and spawn electron-positron pairs. The outflow energy is processed into copious e {sup {+-}} until the plasma enters outer parts of the loop where the magnetic field is reduced below 10{sup 13} G. In the outer zone, photons scattered by the outflow do not convert to e {sup {+-}} pairs and the outflow radiates its energy away. The escaping radiation forms a distinct hard X-ray peak in the magnetar spectrum. It has the following features: (1) its luminosity L = 10{sup 35}-10{sup 36} erg s{sup -1} can easily exceed the thermal luminosity from the magnetar surface, (2) its spectrum extends from 10 keV to the MeV band with a hard spectral slope, which depends on the object inclination to the line of sight, (3) the anisotropic hard X-ray emission exhibits strong pulsations as the magnetar spins, (4) the emission spectrum typically peaks around 1 MeV, but the peak position significantly oscillates with the spin period, (5) the emission is dominated by the extraordinary polarization mode at photon energies below {approx}1 MeV, and (6) the decelerated pairs accumulate and annihilate at the top of the magnetic loop, and emit the 511 keV line with luminosity L {sub ann} {approx} 0.1 L. Features (1)-(3) agree with available data; (4)-(6) can be tested by future observations.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2013

MODELING THE THERMAL DIFFUSE SOFT AND HARD X-RAY EMISSION IN M17

We present numerical models of very young wind driven superbubbles. The parameters chosen for the simulations correspond to the particular case of the M17 nebula, but are appropriate for any young superbubble in which the wind sources have not completely dispersed their parental cloud. From the simulations, we computed the diffuse emission in the soft ([0.5-1.5] keV) and hard ([1.5-5] keV) X-ray bands. The total luminosity in our simulations agrees with the observations of Hyodo et al., about two orders of magnitude below the prediction of the standard model of Weaver et al.. The difference with respect to the standard (adiabatic) model is the inclusion of radiative cooling, which is still important in such young bubbles. We show that for this type of object the diffuse hard X-ray luminosity is significant compared to that of soft X-rays, contributing as much as 10% of the total luminosity, in contrast with more evolved bubbles where the hard X-ray emission is indeed negligible, being at least four orders of magnitude lower than the soft X-ray emission.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2013

VLBI OBSERVATION OF MICROQUASAR CYG X-3 DURING AN X-RAY STATE TRANSITION FROM SOFT TO HARD IN THE 2007 MAY-JUNE FLARE

We present a radio observation of microquasar Cyg X-3 during an X-ray state transition from ultrasoft to hard state in the 2007 May-June flare using the VLBI Exploration of Radio Astrometry at 22 GHz. During the transition, a short-lived mini-flare of {approx}< 3 hr was detected prior to the major flare. In such a transition, a jet ejection is believed to occur, but there have been no direct observations to support it. An analysis of Gaussian fits to the observed visibility amplitudes shows a time variation of the source axis, or a structural change, during the mini-flare. Our model fits, together with other multiwavelength observations in the radio, soft, and hard X-rays, and the shock-in-jet models for other flaring activities at GHz wavebands, suggest a high possibility of synchrotron flares during the mini-flare, indicative of a predominant contribution from jet activity. Therefore, the mini-flare with an associated structural change is indicative of a jet ejection event in the state transition from ultrasoft to hard state.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗