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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 397 records · Page 22
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2013

Spectrally Consistent Scattering, Absorption, and Polarization Properties of Atmospheric Ice Crystals at Wavelengths from 0.2 to 100 um

A data library is developed containing the scattering, absorption, and polarization properties of ice particles in the spectral range from 0.2 to 100 microns. The properties are computed based on a combination of the Amsterdam discrete dipole approximation (ADDA), the T-matrix method, and the improved geometric optics method (IGOM). The electromagnetic edge effect is incorporated into the extinction and absorption efficiencies computed from the IGOM. A full set of single-scattering properties is provided by considering three-dimensional random orientations for 11 ice crystal habits: droxtals, prolate spheroids, oblate spheroids, solid and hollow columns, compact aggregates composed of eight solid columns, hexagonal plates, small spatial aggregates composed of 5 plates, large spatial aggregates composed of 10 plates, and solid and hollow bullet rosettes. The maximum dimension of each habit ranges from 2 to 10,000 microns in 189 discrete sizes. For each ice crystal habit, three surface roughness conditions (i.e., smooth, moderately roughened, and severely roughened) are considered to account for the surface texture of large particles in the IGOM applicable domain. The data library contains the extinction efficiency, single-scattering albedo, asymmetry parameter, six independent nonzero elements of the phase matrix (P11, P12, P22, P33, P43, and P44), particle projected area, and particle volume to provide the basic single-scattering properties for remote sensing applications and radiative transfer simulations involving ice clouds. Furthermore, a comparison of satellite observations and theoretical simulations for the polarization characteristics of ice clouds demonstrates that ice cloud optical models assuming severely roughened ice crystals significantly outperform their counterparts assuming smooth ice crystals.

Optical properties↗
DOE OSTI2025

Planar Collisionless Shock Simulations with the Semi-implicit Particle-in-cell Model FLEKS

This study investigates the applicability of the semi-implicit particle-in-cell code FLexible Exascale Kinetic Simulator (FLEKS) to heliospheric shock simulations. We examine one- and two-dimensional local planar shock simulations, initialized using MHD states with upstream conditions representative of plasmas in the hypersonic, β ∼ 1 regime, for both quasi-perpendicular and quasi-parallel configurations. The refined algorithm in FLEKS proves robust, enabling accurate shock simulations with a grid resolution on the order of the electron inertial length d e . Our simulations successfully capture key shock features, including shock structures (foot, ramp, overshoot, and undershoot), upstream and downstream waves (fast magnetosonic, whistler, Alfvén ion-cyclotron, and mirror modes), and non-Maxwellian particle distributions. Crucially, we find that at least two spatial dimensions are critical for accurately reproducing downstream-wave physics in quasi-perpendicular shocks and capturing the complex dynamics of quasi-parallel shocks, including surface rippling, shocklets, short, large-amplitude magnetic structures, magnetic reconnection, and jets. Furthermore, our parameter studies demonstrate the impact of mass ratio and grid resolution on shock physics. This work provides valuable guidance for selecting appropriate physical and numerical parameters for shock simulations using a semi-implicit PIC method, paving the way for incorporating kinetic shock processes into large-scale collisionless plasma simulations with the MHD-AEPIC model.

plasma astrophysics↗
DOE OSTI2021

Self-interacting neutrinos, the Hubble parameter tension, and the cosmic microwave background

Here, we perform a comprehensive study of cosmological constraints on nonstandard neutrino self-interactions using cosmic microwave background and baryon acoustic oscillation data. We consider different scenarios for neutrino self-interactions distinguished by the fraction of neutrino states allowed to participate in self-interactions and how the relativistic energy density, N eff , is allowed to vary. Specifically, we study cases in which all neutrino states self-interact and N eff varies; two species free-stream, which we show alleviates tension with laboratory constraints, while the energy in the additional interacting states varies; and a variable fraction of neutrinos self-interact with either the total N eff fixed to the Standard Model value or allowed to vary. In no case do we find compelling evidence for new neutrino interactions or nonstandard values of N eff . In several cases, we find additional modes with neutrino decoupling occurring at lower redshifts z dec ~ 10 3–4 . We do a careful analysis to examine whether new neutrino self-interactions solve or alleviate the so-called H 0 tension and find that, when all Planck 2018 CMB temperature and polarization data are included, none of these examples eases the tension more than allowing a variable N eff comprised of free-streaming particles. Although we focus on neutrino interactions, these constraints are applicable to any light relic particle.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Numerical Investigation of the characteristics of pressurized biomass-oxy-combustion

As a second generation of oxy-fuel combustion technologies, pressurized oxy-combustion has a potential to improve the process efficiency and economy. With the modern decarbonization needs, biomass combustion is considered to be nearly CO2 neutral, and thus co-firing biomass with coal in an oxy-combustion process can achieve a negative CO2 balance. The size of the biomass fuel particles is a key parameter in an entrained flow combustor because large biomass particles, exceeding some threshold size, may only partially be burnt due to the restrictions on the heat transport, thereby diminishing the combustion efficiency. While such a threshold particle size has been scrutinized at an atmospheric pressure, the present study extends the analysis to elevated pressures. Specifically, two scenarios were set up, for experimental-scale and full-scale pressurized oxy-combustors, with the threshold sizes of biomass particles appearing 0.5 mm and 5 mm, respectively, without temperature gradient in biomass particles. With temperature gradient, the parametric study included the particles in the range from 0.15 mm to 5 mm. It is shown that the thermal-thin model is applicable to spherical biomass particles not exceeding 0.15 mm. The impact of the heating rate on biomass particle devolatilization was also investigated and the biomass devolatilization could happen in less than 1 second; the same amount of heat energy could induce different volatile release rates.

Li, Lei↗
DOE OSTI2022

Perspective: Biochemical and Physical Constraints Associated With Preparing Thin Specimens for Single-Particle Cryo-EM

While many aspects of single-particle electron cryo-microscopy (cryo-EM) of biological macromolecules have reached a sophisticated level of development, this is not yet the case when it comes to preparing thin samples on specimen grids. As a result, there currently is considerable interest in achieving better control of both the sample thickness and the amount of area that is useful, but this is only one aspect in which improvement is needed. This Perspective addresses the further need to prevent the macromolecular particles from making contact with the air-water interface, something that can result in preferential orientation and even structural disruption of macromolecular particles. This unwanted contact can occur either as the result of free diffusion of particles during the interval between application, thinning and vitrification of the remaining buffer, or—when particles have been immobilized—by the film of buffer becoming too thin prior to vitrification. An opportunity now exists to apply theoretical and practical insights from the fields of thin-film physical chemistry and interfacial science, in an effort to bring cryo-EM sample preparation to a level of sophistication that is comparable to that of current data collection and analysis.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2026

Geant4 RApid Pair Production Application (GRAPPA) v1.0.0

GRAPPA is a Geant4 application that simulates the interaction of an incoming particle beam (typically electron or photons) with an High-Z material. Particles are generated at a certain energy and interact with a solid target. The product of this interaction is detected and saved on file. The application implements a basic target that is just a simple box, and it accepts complex target descriptions via GDML files. The user has the freedom to set detectors to capture the desired particles. This application enables studying processes such as antiparticle production, muon generation, and atomic decay.

Terzani, Davide [Lawrence Berkeley National Labora↗
DOE OSTI2024

A Particle-in-Cell Method for Plasmas with a Generalized Momentum Formulation, Part II: Enforcing the Lorenz Gauge Condition

In a previous paper Christlieb et al. (A particle-in-cell method for plasmas with a generalized momentum formulation, part I: Model formulation, 2024), we developed a new particle-in-cell (PIC) method for the relativistic Vlasov–Maxwell system in which the electromagnetic fields and the equations of motion for the particles were cast in terms of scalar and vector potentials through a Hamiltonian formulation. This new method evolved the potentials under the Lorenz gauge using integral equation methods. New methods to construct spatial derivatives of the potentials that converge at the same rates as the fields were also presented. The new particle method was compared against standard explicit discretizations, including the well-known FDTD-PIC method, for a range of applications involving sheaths and particle beams. Here, this paper extends this new class of methods by focusing on the enforcement the Lorenz gauge condition in both exact and approximate forms using co-located meshes. A time-consistency property of the proposed field solver for the vector potential form of Maxwell’s equations is established, which is shown to preserve the equivalence between the semi-discrete Lorenz gauge condition and the analogous semi-discrete continuity equation. Using this property, we present three methods to enforce a semi-discrete gauge condition. The first method introduces an update for the continuity equation that is consistent with the discretization of the Lorenz gauge condition. Both the finite difference and spectral implementations satisfy this discrete gauge condition to machine precision. The second approach we propose enforces a semi-discrete continuity equation using the boundary integral solution to the field equations. The potential benefit of this approach is that it eliminates spatial derivatives that appear on the particle data, namely the current density, which is often calculated by linear combinations of low-order spline basis functions. This method is ideally suited to boundary integral equation methods that invert multi-dimensional operators without dimensional splitting techniques and will be the subject of future work. The third approach introduces a gauge correcting method that makes direct use of the gauge condition to modify the scalar potential and uses local maps for both the charge and current densities. This results in a gauge error, as the maps do not enforce the continuity equation. The vector potential coming from the current density is taken to be exact, and using the Lorenz gauge, we compute a correction to the scalar potential that makes the two potentials satisfy the gauge condition. This method also enforces the gauge condition to machine precision. We demonstrate two of the proposed methods in the context of periodic domains. Problems defined on bounded domains, including those with complex geometric features remain an ongoing effort. However, this work shows that it is possible to design computationally efficient methods that can effectively enforce the Lorenz gauge condition in a non-staggered PIC formulation.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2022

Silicon alloying enhances fast heating rate combustion of aluminum particles

Alloys and composites of aluminum (Al) have shown promise in regulating and enhancing particle combustion for energy generation applications. Recent work on aluminum-silicon (Al-Si) spherical alloy particles has shown improved combustion at low heating rates through enhanced diffusion accompanying a lower melting temperature. This study extends reactivity analysis to higher heating rates, comparing oxidation of Al-Si with Al. Flame speeds of Al-Si powder mixed with molybdenum trioxide (MoO 3 ) powder (Al-Si+MoO 3 ) exhibited a faster transition to steady propagation relative to Al+MoO 3 . Bomb calorimetry experiments revealed up to 5.8% greater early temperature rise for Al-Si powder. Rapid steady propagation for Al-Si mixture and faster temperature rise for Al-Si particles were attributed to accelerated kinetics evidenced in thermal equilibrium analysis of the mixtures using a differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). Larger DSC exotherms in the early stages of oxidation (i.e., 480–720 °C) correlated with early heat release and promoted steady flame propagation for Al-Si+MoO 3 compared with Al+MoO 3 . Furthermore, in multiple heating rate DSC studies, Al-Si+MoO 3 ignited at a lower heating rate (i.e., 15 ⁰C/min) than Al+MoO 3 (i.e., 20 ⁰C/min). Both mixtures ignited at temperatures less than 625 °C which is above the melting temperature of Al-Si (574 °C) and below Al (659 °C). Thus, alloy particle fuels with enhanced diffusion-controlled kinetics promote steady flame propagation and show promise for energy generation applications. This is especially promising for technologies driven by enhanced condensed phase combustion such as some propellant additives or applications dependent on reliable burn rates such as pyrotechnic time delay formulations and primers.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS1977

Effects of particle drift on cosmic-ray transport. I - General properties, application to solar modulation

Although gradient and curvature drifts are explicitly contained in the general equations of cosmic-ray transport, they have been almost universally neglected in applications of these equations. The drifts are evaluated explicitly for the Parker (1965) spiral magnetic field, and it is shown that for particles with rigidities greater than about 0.3 GV in the solar wind, they are larger than the solar-wind velocity over much of the heliosphere. Hence most current models of solar modulation and solar-flare particle events neglect terms which in many cases are as important as those retained. Calculations are presented which demonstrate the importance of the effects for simple modulation models. It is concluded that comparisons of presently available model calculations with observations do not provide a fair test of transport theory since they neglect drifts, which may substantially reduce the net modulation.

Jokipii, J. R.↗
NASA NTRS1980

Independent-particle models for light negative atomic ions

For the purposes of astrophysical, aeronomical, and laboratory application, a precise independent-particle model for electrons in negative atomic ions of the second and third period is discussed. The optimum-potential model (OPM) of Talman et al. (1979) is first used to generate numerical potentials for eight of these ions. Results for total energies and electron affinities are found to be very close to Hartree-Fock solutions. However, the OPM and HF electron affinities both depart significantly from experimental affinities. For this reason, two analytic potentials are developed whose inner energy levels are very close to the OPM and HF levels but whose last electron eigenvalues are adjusted precisely with the magnitudes of experimental affinities. These models are: (1) a four-parameter analytic characterization of the OPM potential and (2) a two-parameter potential model of the Green, Sellin, Zachor type. The system O(-) or e-O, which is important in upper atmospheric physics is examined in some detail.

Ganas, P. S.↗
NASA NTRS2001

Radiation dosimetry using three-dimensional optical random access memories

Three-dimensional optical random access memories (3D ORAMs) are a new generation of high-density data storage devices. Binary information is stored and retrieved via a light induced reversible transformation of an ensemble of bistable photochromic molecules embedded in a polymer matrix. This paper describes the application of 3D ORAM materials to radiation dosimetry. It is shown both theoretically and experimentally, that ionizing radiation in the form of heavy charged particles is capable of changing the information originally stored on the ORAM material. The magnitude and spatial distribution of these changes are used as a measure of the absorbed dose, particle type and energy. The effects of exposure on 3D ORAM materials have been investigated for a variety of particle types and energies, including protons, alpha particles and 12C ions. The exposed materials are observed to fluoresce when exposed to laser light. The intensity and the depth of the fluorescence is dependent on the type and energy of the particle to which the materials were exposed. It is shown that these effects can be modeled using Monte Carlo calculations. The model provides a better understanding of the properties of these materials. which should prove useful for developing systems for charged particle and neutron dosimetry/detector applications. c2001 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.

Non-NASA Center↗
NASA NTRS1994

Low-Flow-Rate Dry-Powder Feeder

Apparatus feeds small, precise flow of dry powder through laser beam of optical analyzer, measuring patterns of light created by forward scattering (Fraunhofer diffraction) of laser beam from powder particles. From measurement, statistical distribution of sizes of powder particles computed. Developed for analyzing particle-size distributions of solid-propellant powders. Also adapted to use in pharmaceutical industry, in manufacture of metal powder, and in other applications in which particle-size distributions of materials used to control rates of chemical reactions and/or physical characteristics of processes.

Ramsey, Keith E.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Fabrication, Modeling, and Testing of a Prototype Thermal Energy Storage Containment

Increasing penetration of variable renewable energy resources requires the deployment of energy storage at a range of durations. Long-duration energy storage (LDES) technologies will fulfill the need to firm variable renewable energy resource output year round; lithium-ion batteries are uneconomical at these durations. Thermal energy storage (TES) is one promising technology for LDES applications because of its siting flexibility and ease of scaling. Particle-based TES systems use low-cost solid particles that have higher temperature limits than the molten salts used in traditional concentrated solar power systems. A key component in particle-based TES systems is the containment silo for the high-temperature (>1100 degrees C) particles. This study combined experimental testing and computational modeling methods to design and characterize the performance of a particle containment silo for LDES applications. A laboratory-scale silo prototype was built and validated the congruent transient finite element analysis (FEA) model. The performance of a commercial-scale silo was then characterized using the validated model. The commercial-scale model predicted a storage efficiency above 95% after 5 days of storage with a design storage temperature of 1200 degrees C. Insulation material and concrete temperature limits were considered as well. The validation of the methodology means the FEA model can simulate a range of scenarios for future applications. This work supports the development of a promising LDES technology with implications for grid-scale electrical energy storage, but also for thermal energy storage for industrial process heating applications.

clean energy↗
DOE OSTI2022

Study of charge trapping in CZT detectors

A semiconductor detection material, Cadmium Zinc Telluride, was investigated for potential use as a particle detector for space flight applications. Our set of detectors was determined to be flawed for particle detection methods, likely due to charge transport mechanisms within the detector material, or due to reduced voltage required to avoid dielectric breakdown. It was observed that the method of crystal growth may play a role in the performance, but performance may also vary between manufacturers using the same growth method. It is recommended to perform further study at a larger proton beam facility.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗
NASA NTRS1962

Effect of Alpha-Particle Irradiation on Brain Glycogen in the Rat

The studies of Klatzo, Miquel, Tobias and Haymaker (1961) have shown that one of the earliest and most sensitive indications of the effects of alpha-particle irradiation on rat bran is the appearance of glycogen granules mainly in the neuroglia of the exposed area of the brain. Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) positive, alpha-amylase soluble granules were demonstrated within 12 hr after irradiation, preceding by approximately 36 hr the first microscopically detectable vascular permeability disturbances, as shown by the fluorescein labeled serum protein technique. These studies suggested that the injurious effects of alpha-particle energy were on cellular elements primarily, according to the physical properties and distribution of the radiation in the tissue, and that the vascular permeability disturbances played a secondary role in pathogenesis. The purpose of this study was to correlate the histochemical observations on glycogen with a quantitative assessment of the glycogen in the irradiated brain tissue. It is felt that such a study may contribute to the understanding of radiation injury at the molecular level. A practical aspect of this problem is that the information on biological radiation effects due to accelerated particles from the cyclotron source, is employed in this study, is applicable to radiation from cosmic particles both in free space and entrapped in the Van Allen belts.

Wolfe, L. S.↗
NASA NTRS1972

Particle detection with intensified laser beam

Application of external and laser output mirrors to produce intensified light beam for measurement of light scattered by dispersed particles is described. Use of fiber optics bundles to collect light is discussed. Diagram of equipment and principles of operation are presented.

Knollenberg, R. G.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Sensitivity of Single-Scattering Properties to Precipitation Particle Meltwater Geometry for GPM Passive Microwave and Radar Remote Sensing Applications

The objective of the current work is to describe the microwave single-scattering properties of partially melted ice-phase precipitation particles using physically-based computational methods, taking into full account the varied geometries of the initially “dry” ice particles and the distributions of liquid water that develop during the melting process. Ultimately, the bulk properties of ensembles of these partially-melted particles will be included in “scattering tables” to support radar and combined radar-radiometer remote sensing of precipitation. A meshless Lagrangian melting procedure (snowMELT) based on smoothed-particle hydrodynamics is applied to both spherical and finely-structured ice particle models to describe the full evolution of the particles from dry ice particles to liquid drops. The melting of spherical ice particles using snowMELT is compared to an alternative continuum physics model to validate melt times and internal thermodynamics. The discrete dipole approximation is then utilized to calculate the single-scattering properties of different mixed-phase particles throughout the melting process. The sensitivities of particle single-scattering properties to thermodynamic and hydrodynamic assumptions in snowMELT are explored, and the implications for combined radar-radiometer precipitation remote sensing from GPM are discussed.

William S Olson↗
NASA NTRS1989

Assessment of impingement effects in the isentropic core of a small satellite control thruster plume

Two computational techniques commonly employed in the calculation of rocket and thruster expansion plumes are assessed. These are the method of characteristics (MOC), which is derived from the continuum Euler equations, and the direct simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method, which adopts a discrete particle approach. These techniques vary both in the computational expense and in the accuracy and detail of the solutions that they provide, depending upon the regime of application. The assessment is made with reference to the plume expanding from a small monopropellant hydrazine thruster and concentrates on the isentropic core of the jet for the flow regime lying between the continuum and free molecular limits. It is found that the more numerically intensive DSMC method offers the better correspondence to the available experimental data. In addition, large differences in typical impingement effects such as drag force and heat transfer are found at the free molecular limit of the plume expansion for the two predictive techniques. It is concluded that accurate estimation of impingement potential may only be achieved through application of the discrete particle method.

Boyd, I. D.↗