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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 433 records · Page 24

Infrared excesses in early-type stars - Gamma Cassiopeiae

Spectrophotometry of the classical Be star Gamma Cas (1-4 microns, with about 2% spectral resolution) is presented. These data, together with existing broad-band observations, are accurately described by simple isothermal LTE models for the IR excess which differ from most previously published work in three ways: (1) hydrogenic bound-free emission is included; (2) the attenuation of the star by the shell is included; and (3) no assumption is made that the shell contribution is negligible in some bandpass. It is demonstrated that the bulk of the IR excess consists of hydrogenic bound-free and free-free emission from a shell of hot ionized hydrogen gas, although a small thermal component cannot be ruled out. The bound-free emission is strong, and the Balmer, Paschen, and Brackett discontinuities are correctly represented by the shell model with physical parameters as follows: a shell temperature of approximately 18,000 K, an optical depth (at 1 micron) of about 0.5, an electron density of approximately 1 trillion per cu cm, and a size of about 2 trillion cm. Phantom shells (i.e., ones which do not alter the observed spectrum of the underlying star) are discussed.

Scargle, J. D.↗

Electrochemically Induced Strain Evolution in Pt–Ni Alloy Nanoparticles Observed by Bragg Coherent Diffraction Imaging

Strain is known to enhance the activity of the oxygen reduction reaction in catalytic platinum alloy nanoparticles, whose inactivity is the primary impediment to efficient fuel cells and metal–air batteries. Here, Bragg coherent diffraction imaging (BCDI) was employed to reveal the strain evolution during the voltammetric cycling in Pt–Ni alloy nanoparticles composed of Pt 2 Ni 3 , Pt 1 Ni 1 , and Pt 3 Ni 2 . Analysis of the 3D strain images using a core–shell model shows that the strain as large as 5% is induced on Pt-rich shells due to Ni dissolution. The composition dependency of the strain on the shells is in excellent agreement with that of the catalytic activity. The present study demonstrates that BCDI enables quantitative determination of the strain on alloy nanoparticles during electrochemical reactions, which provides a means to exploit surface strain to design a wide range of electrocatalysts.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Probing high-momentum protons and neutrons in neutron-rich nuclei

The atomic nucleus is one of the densest and most complex quantum-mechanical systems in nature. Nuclei account for nearly all the mass of the visible Universe. The properties of individual nucleons (protons and neutrons) in nuclei can be probed by scattering a high-energy particle from the nucleus and detecting this particle after it scatters, often also detecting an additional knocked-out proton. Analysis of electron- and proton-scattering experiments suggests that some nucleons in nuclei form close-proximity neutron–proton pairs with high nucleon momentum, greater than the nuclear Fermi momentum. However, how excess neutrons in neutron-rich nuclei form such close-proximity pairs remains unclear. In this study we measure protons and, for the first time, neutrons knocked out of medium-to-heavy nuclei by high-energy electrons and show that the fraction of high-momentum protons increases markedly with the neutron excess in the nucleus, whereas the fraction of high-momentum neutrons decreases slightly. This effect is surprising because in the classical nuclear shell model, protons and neutrons obey Fermi statistics, have little correlation and mostly fill independent energy shells. These high-momentum nucleons in neutron-rich nuclei are important for understanding nuclear parton distribution functions (the partial momentum distribution of the constituents of the nucleon) and changes in the quark distributions of nucleons bound in nuclei (the EMC effect). They are also relevant for the interpretation of neutrino-oscillation measurements and understanding of neutron-rich systems such as neutron stars.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Axisymmetric shell analysis of the Space Shuttle solid rocket booster field joint

The Space Shuttle Challenger (STS 51-L) accident led to an intense investigation of the structural behavior of the solid rocket booster (SRB) tang and clevis field joints. The presence of structural deformations between the clevis inner leg and the tang, substantial enough to prevent the O-ring seals from eliminating hot gas flow through the joints, has emerged as a likely cause of the vehicle failure. This paper presents results of axisymmetric shell analyses that parametrically assess the structural behavior of SRB field joints subjected to quasi-steady-state internal pressure loading for both the original joint flown on mission STS 51-L and the redesigned joint recently flown on the Space Shuttle Discovery. Discussion of axisymmetric shell modeling issues and details is presented and a generic method for simulating contact between adjacent shells of revolution is described. Results are presented that identify the performance trends of the joints for a wide range of joint parameters.

Nemeth, Michael P.↗

Axisymmetric shell analysis of the space shuttle solid rocket booster field joint

The Space Shuttle Challenger (STS 51-L) accident led to an intense investigation of the structural behavior of the solid rocket booster (SRB) tang and clevis field joints. Results are presented of axisymmetric shell analyses that parametrically assess the structural behavior of SRB field joints subjected to quasi-steady-state internal pressure loading for both the original joint flown on mission STS 51-L and the redesigned joint flown for the first time after the STS 51-L accident on the Space Shuttle Discovery. Discussion of axisymmetric shell modeling issues and details is presented and a generic method for simulating contact between adjacent shells of revolution is described. Results are presented that identify the performance trends of the joints for a wide range of joint parameters. An important finding is that the redesigned joint exhibits significantly smaller O-ring gap changes and much less sensitivity to joint clearances than the original joint. For a wide range of joint parameters, the result presented indicate that the redesigned joint provides a much better pressure seal than the original joint.

Nemeth, Michael P.↗

Vibration characteristics of 1/8-scale dynamic models of the space-shuttle solid-rocket boosters

Vibration tests and analyses of six 1/8 scale models of the space shuttle solid rocket boosters are reported. Natural vibration frequencies and mode shapes were obtained for these aluminum shell models having internal solid fuel configurations corresponding to launch, midburn (maximum dynamic pressure), and near endburn (burnout) flight conditions. Test results for longitudinal, torsional, bending, and shell vibration frequencies are compared with analytical predictions derived from thin shell theory and from finite element plate and beam theory. The lowest analytical longitudinal, torsional, bending, and shell vibration frequencies were within + or - 10 percent of experimental values. The effects of damping and asymmetric end skirts on natural vibration frequency were also considered. The analytical frequencies of an idealized full scale space shuttle solid rocket boosted structure are computed with and without internal pressure and are compared with the 1/8 scale model results.

Leadbetter, S. A.↗

Cluster structure of light nuclei

We review recent studies of the cluster structure of light nuclei within the framework of the algebraic cluster model (ACM) for nuclei composed of k α-particles and within the framework of the cluster shell model (CSM) for nuclei composed of k α-particles plus x additional nucleons. The calculations, based on symmetry considerations and thus for the most part given in analytic form, are compared with experiments in light cluster nuclei. The comparison shows evidence for Z 2 , D 3h and T d symmetry in the even–even nuclei 8 Be (k = 2), 12 C (k = 3) and 16 O (k = 4), respectively, and for the associated double groups Z' 2 and D' 3h in the odd nuclei 9 Be, 9 B (k = 2, x = 1) and 13 C (k = 3, x = 1), respectively.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Quantum mechanical signature in exclusive coherent pion production

We calculate the coherent production of pions from subthreshold to relativistic energies in heavy-ion collisions using a quantum, microscopic, many-body model. For the first time, in this approach, we use harmonic oscillator wave functions to describe shell-model information. The theoretical quantum mechanical results obtained for the pion spectra represent an important improvement over our previous microscopic, many-body calculations.

NASA Discipline Radiation Health↗

The evidence of N = 16 shell closure and β -delayed neutron emission from 25 F

We measured the β -delayed neutron emission from 25 F for the first time at the Facility for Rare Isotope Beams (FRIB). Using combined neutron and γ -ray detector systems of the FRIB Decay Station Initiator (FDSi), we observed β -decay transitions populating neutron unbound states between 4.2 and 8 MeV in 25 Ne. The experimental results led to the revision of the β -decay half-life and β -delayed neutron-emission probability of 25 F. The β -decay strength distribution of 25 F extracted from the data agrees with the shell-model predictions using the USDB and SDPF-M effective interactions. This result indicates that the spherical neutron shell gap persists in 25 F and 25 Ne.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

γ-ray measurements in fast-neutron-induced reactions on 203 Tl

Fast-neutron-induced reactions can be used to characterize reaction mechanisms, investigate nuclear structure, and impose constraints on nuclear models. Because of the difficulty in predicting such effects, experimental data are important to constrain models. Thallium isotopes located close to the doubly magic Pb 208 nucleus are important for comparison with shell-model calculations. Study the population of excited states in Tl 203 and lighter isotopes in such reactions. Our methods are as follows. γ -ray cross sections were measured. The data were taken by using the Germanium Array for Neutron-Induced Excitations spectrometer. The pulsed neutron source of the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center's Weapons Neutron Research facility provided neutrons in the energy range from 1 to 300 MeV. The time-of-flight technique was used to determine the incident neutron energies. Cross sections for emission of several γ rays in 20 reaction channels were determined. Candidates for the intruder 9 / 2 - state in Tl 203 , from the odd proton in the h 9 / 2 orbital, and the first 5 + states in Tl 202 , 204 , from admixture of configurations, were identified. The excitation energy of the candidate 9 / 2 - , π h 9 / 2 state is in good agreement with the theoretical prediction from a semi-empirical weak-coupling model and its half-life is in the range of tens of nanoseconds. The feeding of a previously known isomer in Tl 202 exhibits similarities with the feeding of other isomers in this mass region.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Nuclear states projected from a pair condensate

Atomic nuclei exhibit deformation, pairing correlations, and rotational symmetries. To meet these competing demands in a computationally tractable formalism, we revisit the use of general pair condensates with good particle number as a trial wave function for even-even nuclei. After minimizing the energy of the condensate, allowing for general triaxial deformations, we project out states with good angular momentum with a fast projection technique. To show applicability, we present example calculations from pair condensates in several model spaces and compare against angular-momentum projected Hartree-Fock and full configuration-interaction shell-model calculations. This approach successfully generates spherical, vibrational, and rotational spectra, demonstrating potential for modeling medium- to heavy-mass nuclei.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Low spin spectroscopy of neutron-rich Cl 43 , 44 , 45 via β - and β n decay

In this article, β - decay studies of neutron-rich isotopes 43,45 S performed at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory are reported. β -delayed $\gamma$ transitions were detected by an array of 16 clover detectors surrounding the Beta Counting Station, which consists of a 40×40 double-sided silicon strip detector followed by a single-sided silicon strip detector. β -decay half-lives were extracted for 43,45 S by correlating implants and decays in the pixelated implant detector and by considering further coincidences with $\gamma$ transitions in the daughter nuclei. Further, the level structures of 43,45 Cl are expanded by the addition of 20 and 8 new $\gamma$ transitions in 43 Cl and 45 Cl respectively, and core-excited negative-parity states were observed in both nuclei for the first time. For 45 S, a large fraction of the β -decay strength was observed feeding neutron-unbound states in 45 Cl, which, decaying by delayed neutrons, populated excited states in the β ⁢1⁢ n daughter, 44 Cl. Experimental observations were compared to detailed shell-model calculations using the SDPFSDG-MU interaction to highlight the role of the diminished N = 28 neutron shell gap and the near degeneracy of the proton s 1/2 and d 3/2 orbitals in the structure of the neutron-rich Cl isotopes. The current work also provides further support to a ground-state spin-parity assignment of 3/2 + in 45 Cl.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Effects of pore size on water dynamics in mesoporous silica

Water confined in mesoporous silica plays a central role in its many uses ranging from gas sorption to nanoconfined chemical reactions. Here in this paper, the influence of pore diameter (2.5–5.4 nm) on water hydrogen bond (H-bond) dynamics in MCM41 and SBA15 mesoporous silicas is investigated using femtosecond infrared vibrational spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulations on selenocyanate (SeCN-) anions dissolved in the pores. As shown recently, SeCN- spectral diffusion is a reliable probe of surrounding water H-bond structural motions. Additionally, the long CN stretch vibrational lifetime facilitates measurement of the full range of confined dynamics, which are much slower than in bulk water. The simulations shed light on quantitative details that are inaccessible from the spatially averaged observables. The dependence of SeCN- orientational relaxation and that of spectral diffusion on the distance from the silica interface are quantitatively described with an exponential decay and a smoothed step-function, respectively. The distance-dependence of both quantities is found to be independent of the diameter of the pores, and the spatial distribution of SeCN- is markedly non-uniform, reaching a maximum between the interface and the pore center. The results indicate that the commonly invoked two-state, or core–shell, model is a more appropriate description of spectral diffusion. Using these insights, we model the full time-dependence of the measured dynamics for all pore sizes and extract the “core” and “shell” dynamical correlation functions and SeCN- spatial probability distributions. The results are critically compared to those for water confined in reverse micelles.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Multiparticle-hole excitations in nuclei near N = Z = 20: $^{41}$K

This experimental study of high-spin structure near the N = Z = 20 region focuses on 41 K and also reports three newly observed γ transitions in 41 Ca from the same reaction. High-spin states were populated using the 26 Mg( 18 O, p2nγ) 41 K and 26 Mg( 18 O, 3nγ) 41 Ca reactions at a beam energy of 50 MeV at the Florida State University John D. Fox Superconducting Linear Accelerator Laboratory, employing the FSU high-purity germanium detector array. The level scheme of 41 K was extended to 12325 keV, possibly up to J π = 25/2 − or 27/2 + , by means of 25 new γ-ray transitions, and that of 41 Ca to 9916 keV. Linear polarization and angular-distribution measurements were used to provide spin and parity information for several states in the 41 K decay scheme. The results are compared with spsdpf cross-shell shell-model calculations using the FSU interaction. Configurations involving zero or one nucleon promoted from the sd to the fp shell reproduce the energies of many known states reasonably well, while multi-particle excitations reveal a more complex interplay of single-particle motion, collective pairing, and deformation, posing an interesting challenge for future theoretical work.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Multi-spacecraft Observations of the Coronal and Interplanetary Evolution of a Solar Eruption Associated with Two Active Regions

We investigate the coronal and interplanetary evolution of a coronal mass ejection (CME) launched on 2010 September 4 from a source region linking two active regions (ARs), 11101 and 11103, using extreme ultraviolet imaging, magnetogram, white-light, and in situ observations from SDO , STEREO , SOHO , VEX , and Wind . A potential-field source-surface model is employed to examine the configuration of the coronal magnetic field surrounding the source region. The graduated cylindrical shell model and a triangulation method are applied to determine the kinematics of the CME in the corona and interplanetary space. From the remote sensing and in situ observations, we obtain some key results: (1) the CME was deflected in both the eastward and southward directions in the low corona by the magnetic pressure from the two ARs, and possibly interacted with another ejection, which caused that the CME arrived at VEX that was longitudinally distant from the source region; (2) although VEX was closer to the Sun, the observed and derived CME arrival times at VEX are not earlier than those at Wind , which suggests the importance of determining both the frontal shape and propagation direction of the CME in interplanetary space; and (3) the ICME was compressed in the radial direction while the longitudinal transverse size was extended.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Vibration and structureborne noise in space station

Analytical models and computer programs for structural response calculations under action of mechanical point loads were developed for single wall shells (composite or aluminum), double wall shells (composite or aluminum), and single wall or double wall circular plates (aluminum). The design configuration of the habitability modules of the space station concept are expected to be discretely stiffened cylindrical shells with truncated cone type end caps or flat but stiffened circular end plates. Analytical formulations and response calculations were performed for the case where the stiffened shell is represented by an orthotropic shell model. The natural frequencies can be calculated. For application to low frequency (below 1000Hz) vibrations and noise generation, such a model might be adequate to evaluate vibration and noise transmission characteristics of space station habitability modules. Parametric studies are now being performed to assess interior noise environment inside a habitability module to mechanically induced vibrations.

Vaicaitis, R.↗

Offset, tilted dipole models of Uranian smooth high-frequency radio emission

The smooth high-frequency (SHF) component of the radio emission detected during the Voyager 2 encounter with Uranus (January 1986) is studied. An offset tilted dipole (OTD) investigation of the SHF emission at L shells is carried out within the range of the bursty source locations. A viable high L shell model is presented. It is suggested that Miranda, which reaches a minimum L shell at L = 5, may be related to the timing of several types of radio emissions.

Schweitzer, Andrea E.↗

Large-scale exact diagonalizations reveal low-momentum scales of nuclei

Ab initio methods aim to solve the nuclear many-body problem with controlled approximations. Virtually exact numerical solutions for realistic interactions can only be obtained for certain special cases such as few-nucleon systems. In this paper, we extend the reach of exact diagonalization methods to handle model spaces with dimension exceeding ${10}^{10}$ on a single compute node. This allows us to perform no-core shell model (NCSM) calculations for $^{6}\mathrm{Li}$ in model spaces up to ${N}_{\mathrm{max}}=22$ and to reveal the $^{4}\mathrm{He}$+d halo structure of this nucleus. Still, the use of a finite harmonic-oscillator basis implies truncations in both infrared (IR) and ultraviolet (UV) length scales. These truncations impose finite-size corrections on observables computed in this basis. We perform IR extrapolations of energies and radii computed in the NCSM and with the coupled-cluster method at several fixed UV cutoffs. It is shown that this strategy enables information gain also from data that is not fully UV converged. IR extrapolations improve the accuracy of relevant bound-state observables for a range of UV cutoffs, thus making them profitable tools. We relate the momentum scale that governs the exponential IR convergence to the threshold energy for the first open decay channel. Finally, using large-scale NCSM calculations we numerically verify this small-momentum scale of finite nuclei.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗