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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 451 records · Page 25
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2023

Description of the multinucleon transfer mechanism for Ca 48 + Pu 244 and Kr 86 + Pt 198 reactions in a quantal transport approach

Multinucleon transfer (MNT) reactions involving heavy projectile and target combinations stand as a promising method for synthesizing new neutron-rich exotic nuclei, which may not be possible using hot or cold fusion reactions or fragmentation. Exploring the mechanisms behind MNT reactions is essential and it requires a comprehensive theoretical framework that can explain the physical observables in these reactions. This work aims to show that the quantal diffusion approach based on the stochastic mean-field (SMF) theory is capable of explaining the reaction dynamics observed in MNT reactions. Primary product mass distributions in 48 Ca + 244 Pu reaction at E c.m. = 203.2 MeV and 86 Kr + 198 Pt reaction at E c.m. = 324.2 MeV are calculated and compared with the available experimental data. In this work, we utilize the time-dependent Hartree-Fock (TDHF) calculations to analyze the mean-field reaction dynamics computationally in the reactions 48 Ca + 244 Pu and 86 Kr + 198 Pt for a broad range of initial angular momenta. Quantal transport description based on the SMF approach is used to calculate quantal diffusion coefficients and mass variances in 48 Ca + 244 Pu and 86 Kr + 198 Pt systems. The primary products arising from quasifission reactions are described by joint probability distribution in the SMF approach and those arising from fusion-fission are estimated by using the statistical deexcitation code gemini + +. Mean values of charge and mass numbers, scattering angles of the primary reaction products, and the total kinetic energies after the collision are calculated within the TDHF framework for a broad range of initial angular momenta. Throughout all the collisions, drift toward the mass symmetry and large mass dispersion associated with this drift are observed. Here, the calculated primary fragment and mass distributions using the SMF approach successfully explain experimental observations for the 48 Ca + 244 Pu and 86 Kr + 198 Pt systems. The primary mass distributions, mean values of binary products, and mass dispersions are determined and results are compared with the available experimental data. The observed agreement between the experimental data and SMF results highlights the effectiveness of the quantal diffusion mechanism based on the SMF approach, which does not include any adjustable parameters other than standard parameters of Skyrme energy density functional.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2022

Cosmogenic production of 37 Ar in the context of the LUX-ZEPLIN experiment

We estimate the amount of 37 Ar produced in natural xenon via cosmic-ray-induced spallation, an inevitable consequence of the transportation and storage of xenon on the Earth’s surface. We then calculate the resulting 37 Ar concentration in a 10-tonne payload (similar to that of the LUX-ZEPLIN experiment) assuming a representative schedule of xenon purification, storage, and delivery to the underground facility. Using the spallation model by Silberberg and Tsao, the sea-level production rate of 37 Ar in natural xenon is estimated to be 0.024 atoms/kg/day. Assuming the xenon is successively purified to remove radioactive contaminants in 1-tonne batches at a rate of 1 tonne/month, the average 37 Ar activity after 10 tons are purified and transported underground is 0.058 − 0.090 𝜇⁢Bq/kg, depending on the degree of argon removal during above-ground purification. Such cosmogenic 37 Ar will appear as a noticeable background in the early science data, while decaying with a 35-day half-life. This newly noticed production mechanism of 37 Ar should be considered when planning for future liquid-xenon-based experiments.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2023

13 C Radiofrequency Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation Threshold Sensing of Chemical Reactions

Conventional nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) enables detection of chemicals and their transformations by exciting nuclear spin ensembles with a radio-frequency pulse followed by detection of the precessing spins at their characteristic frequencies. The detected frequencies report on chemical reactions in real time and the signal amplitudes scale with concentrations of products and reactants. Here, we employ Radiofrequency Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation (RASER), a quantum phenomenon producing coherent emission of 13 C signals, to detect chemical transformations. The 13 C signals are emitted by the negatively hyperpolarized biomolecules without external radio frequency pulses and without any background signal from other, nonhyperpolarized spins in the ensemble. Here, we studied the hydrolysis of hyperpolarized ethyl-[1- 13 C]acetate to hyperpolarized [1- 13 C]acetate, which was analyzed as a model system by conventional NMR and 13 C RASER. The chemical transformation of 13 C RASER-active species leads to complete and abrupt disappearance of reactant signals and delayed, abrupt reappearance of a frequency-shifted RASER signal without destroying 13 C polarization. Further, the experimentally observed “quantum” RASER threshold is supported by simulations.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2024

Nuclear Computational Low Energy Initiative (NUCLEI)

The NUCLEI project, as defined by the scope of work, developed, implemented and run codes for large-scale computations of many topics in low-energy nuclear physics. Physics studied include the properties of nuclei and nuclear decays, nuclear structure and reactions, and the properties of nuclear matter. The computational techniques used include Quantum Monte Carlo, Configuration Interaction, Coupled Cluster, and Density Functional methods. The research program emphasized areas of high interest to current and possible future DOE nuclear physics facilities, including ATLAS and FRIB (nuclear structure and reactions, and nuclear astrophysics), TJNAF (neutron distributions in nuclei, few body systems, and electroweak processes), NIF (thermonuclear reactions), MAJORANA and FNPB (neutrinoless double-beta decay and physics beyond the Standard Model), and LANSCE (fission studies).

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2025

EMC Effect of Tritium and Helium-3 from the JLab MARATHON Experiment

Measurements of the EMC effect in the tritium and helium-3 mirror nuclei are reported. The data were obtained by the MARATHON Jefferson Lab experiment, which performed deep inelastic electron scattering from deuterium and the three-body nuclei, using a cryogenic gas target system and the high resolution spectrometers of the Hall A Facility of the Lab. The data cover the Bjorken 𝑥 range from 0.20 to 0.83, corresponding to a squared four-momentum transfer 𝑄 2 range from 2.7 to 11.9 (GeV/𝑐) 2 , and to an invariant mass 𝑊 of the final hadronic state greater than 1.84 GeV/𝑐 2 . The tritium EMC effect measurement is the first of its kind. The MARATHON experimental results are compared to results from previous measurements by DESY-HERMES and JLab–Hall C experiments, as well as with few-body theoretical predictions.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Properties of states near 𝐸 𝑥 = 6 MeV in 18 Ne through 17 F +𝑝 scattering

The rate of energy production in the hot-CNO cycle and breakout to the rapid-proton capture process in Type I X-ray bursts is strongly related to the 14 O⁡(𝛼,𝑝)⁢ 17 F reaction rate. The properties of states in 18 Ne near 𝐸 𝑥 = 6.1–6.3 MeV are important for understanding the 14 O⁡(𝛼,𝑝)⁢ 17 F reaction rate. In order to study 18 Ne resonances around this energy region, the RESOLUT radioactive-ion beam facility at Florida State University was used to perform 17 F⁡(𝑝,𝑝)⁢ 17 F elastic scattering on a polypropylene target under inverse kinematics. Scattered protons were detected in a silicon-strip detector array while recoiling 17 F ions were detected in coincidence in a gas ionization detector. An 𝑅-matrix analysis of measured cross sections was conducted along with a reanalysis of data from previous 17 F +𝑝 measurements. All the data analyzed are well described by a consistent set of parameters with a 1 − assignment for a state at 6.14(1) MeV. A second comparable solution is also found with a 3 − assignment for the 6.14(1) MeV state. There is no conclusive evidence supporting one of the two solutions over the other. The rates of the 14 O⁡(𝛼,p)⁢ 17 F reaction that are determined from the two solutions differ by up to an order of magnitude.

6 ≤ A ≤ 19↗
DOE OSTI2020

Search for the high-spin members of the α : 2 n : α band in 10 Be

Clustering plays an important role in the structure of 10 Be. Exotic molecular-like configurations, such as α:2n:α, have been suggested at relatively low excitation energies. To search for the high-spin states that may belong to the molecular-like α:2n:α configuration in 10 Be. Measuring excitation functions for 6 He + α scattering, populating states in the excitation energy range from 4.5 MeV to 8 MeV in 10 Be using a 6 He rare-isotope beam and a thick helium gas target. No new excited states in 10 Be have been observed. Stringent limitation on the possible degree of a-clustering of the hypothetical yrast 6 + state has been obtained. Here, the high-spin members of the α:2n:α molecular-like rotational band configuration, that is considered to have a 0 + bandhead at 6.18 MeV, either do not exist or have small overlap with the 6 He(g.s.)+α channel.

6 ≤ A ≤ 19↗
DOE OSTI2023

Examination of decay heat measurements and their relevance for understanding the origin of the reactor antineutrino anomaly

Measurements of the decay energy released as a function of time following the thermal neutron induced fission of 235 U and 239,241 Pu were performed in the 1970s at Oak Ridge National Laboratory with the purpose of quantifying possible loss of coolant accident scenarios. The derivative of this decay energy with respect to time, known in technical parlance as decay heat, is mainly composed of two terms, that of the electrons produced together with antineutrinos in the $β$-minus decay of the neutron-rich fission products, and that of the $γ$ rays produced in the subsequent decay of excited nuclear levels. In this work we study if this extensive set of decay energy measurements can be used to assess the reactor antineutrino anomaly, that is, the approximately 5% deficit of electron antineutrinos produced by nuclear reactors, first deduced by Mention and collaborators in 2011, and observed by the major reactor antineutrino experiments since. Furthermore, with the assistance of nuclear databases, we are able to obtain the ratio of electron spectra under equilibrium conditions for 235 U to 239 Pu, in better agreement with the lower trend recently reported by Kopeikin and collaborators, as well as those for 235 U to 241 Pu and 241 Pu to 239 Pu, which do not agree well with those measured at the Institut Laue-Langevin in the 1980s. We conclude that a new experimental campaign is needed to measure the electron spectra utilizing a high resolution and signal-to-noise-ratio electron spectrometer and a highly precise fission normalization procedure.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Nuclear Responses with Neural-Network Quantum States

We introduce a variational Monte Carlo framework that combines neural-network quantum states with the Lorentz integral transform technique to compute the dynamical properties of self-bound quantum many-body systems in continuous Hilbert spaces. While broadly applicable to various quantum systems, including atoms and molecules, in this initial application we focus on the photoabsorption cross section of light nuclei, where benchmarks against numerically exact techniques are available. Our accurate theoretical predictions are complemented by robust uncertainty quantification, enabling meaningful comparisons with experiments. Here, we demonstrate that a relatively simple nuclear Hamiltonian—based on a leading-order pionless EFT expansion and known to accurately reproduce ground-state energies of nuclei with 𝐴 ≤ 40—also provides a reliable description of the photoabsorption cross section.

Ab initio calculations↗
DOE OSTI2025

The advanced evolution of massive stars

The nuclear rates for reactions involving 12 C and 16 O are key to computing the energy release and nucleosynthesis evolution of massive stars during their advanced burning phases. Ultimately, these burning rates shape the stellar structure and evolution and influence the nature of the compact objects produced at the end of the stellar life. We explore the implications of new nuclear reaction rates from both experimental and theoretical studies for 12 C(α, γ) 16 ​O, 12 C+ 12​ C, 12 C+ 16 ​O, and 16 O+ 16 ​O reactions for massive stars. Our goal is to investigate how the chemical structure and nucleosynthesis evolve from the He-exhaustion stage to the O-burning phase and how these processes influence the ultimate stellar fate. We computed rotating and non-rotating models for stars of different masses at solar metallicity. We used the stellar evolution code GENEC, which includes a large network of nuclear reactions and isotopes involved in advanced phases, as well as updated rates for 12 C(α,γ) 16 O. For the three fusion reactions involving 12 C and 16 O, we considered new rates following a data-driven fusion suppression scenario (hereafter HIN(RES)) and new theoretical rates obtained with time-dependent Hartree-Fock (TDHF) calculations. The updated 12 C(α, γ) 16 ​O rates mainly impact the chemical structure evolution changing the 12 C/ 16 O ratio at He-exhaustion and have little effect on the CO core mass. This variation in the 12 C/ 16 O ratio is in some cases critical for predicting the final fate of the model, which is very sensitive to 12 C abundance, and in particular the 20 M ⊙ remnant may change from a black hole to a neutron star. The He-burning (C-burning) lifetime is also decreased (increased) by about −2% (+15%). The combined new rates for 12 C+ 12 ​C and 16 O+ 16 ​O fusion reactions according to the HIN(RES) model lead to shorter C- and O-burning lifetimes by ≈ − 10%, and −50%, respectively, and shift the ignition conditions to higher temperatures and densities. In contrast, the theoretical TDHF rates primarily affect C-burning, increasing its duration by about 30% and lowering the ignition temperature. These changes modify the chemical structure of the core, the size and duration of C-burning shells, and hence their compactness. They also impact the central and shell nucleosynthesis (by ±1 dex and by factors of ±2–10, respectively), while 12 C+ 16 ​O reaction rates variations remain the least important.

abundances↗
DOE OSTI2022

Fast-neutron-induced fission of Pu 240 and Pu 242

Herein we report the measurement of the total kinetic energy (TKE) release in the fast neutron induced fission of 240 Pu and 242 Pu. The results are compared to the predictions of the GEF model, the CGMF model, and the model of Denisov and Sedykh as well as previous exptl. work on these reactions. Our absolute measurements of the TKE release are in good agreement with the previous measurements of Nethaway et al. for the interaction of 14.8 MeV neutrons with 240 Pu [Phys. Rev. C16, 1907 (1977)] and of Winkelmann and Aumann for the interaction of 15 MeV neutrons with 242 Pu [Phys. Rev. C30, 934 (1984)]. The general trends of the measured TKE values agree with phenomenol. models but the variances of the TKE distributions are significantly less than predicted by various models. The mean postneutron emission TKE release decreases nonlinearly with increasing neutron energy and can be represented as TKE(MeV) = 175.8 ± 0.3 - (2.4 ± 0.8) lo g 10 E n - (1.4 ± 0.4) lo g 10 $E^{2}_{n}$ for 240 Pu and TKE(MeV) = 177.1 ± 0.3 - (1.2 ± 0.9) lo g 10 E n - (1.8 ± 0.5)lo g 10 $E_{n}^{2}$ for 242 Pu.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Enhanced dynamics in fusion of neutron-rich oxygen nuclei at above-barrier energies

Above-barrier fusion cross sections for an isotopic chain of oxygen isotopes with A = 16 –19 incident on a C 12 target are presented. Experimental data are compared with both static and dynamical microscopic calculations. Here, these calculations are unable to explain the ≈ 37 % increase in the average above-barrier fusion cross section observed for O 19 as compared to β -stable oxygen isotopes. This result suggests that for neutron-rich nuclei existing time-dependent Hartree-Fock calculations underpredict the role of dynamics at near-barrier energies. High-quality measurement of above-barrier fusion for an isotopic chain of increasingly neutron-rich nuclei offers an effective means to probe this fusion dynamics.

6 ≤ A ≤ 19↗
DOE OSTI2020

Isotopically resolved neutron total cross sections at intermediate energies

The neutron total cross sections σ tot of 16,18 O, 58 64 Ni, 103 Rh, and 112,124 Sn have been measured at the Los Alamos Neutron Science Center from low to intermediate energies (3 ≤ E lab ≤ 450 MeV) by leveraging wave-form-digitizer technology. The σ tot relative differences between isotopes are presented, revealing additional information about the isovector components needed for an accurate optical-model description away from stability. Digitizer-enabled σ tot -measurement techniques are discussed and a series of uncertainty-quantified dispersive optical model (DOM) analyses using these new data is presented, validating the use of the DOM for modeling light systems ( 16,18 O) and systems with open neutron shells ( 58,64 Ni and 112,124 Sn). Here, the valence-nucleon spectroscopic factors extracted for each isotope reaffirm the usefulness of high-energy proton reaction cross sections for characterizing depletion from the mean-field expectation.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Semi-inclusive deep-inelastic scattering on a polarized spin-1 target. I. Cross section and spin observables

We develop the theoretical framework for semi-inclusive deep-inelastic scattering on a polarized spin-1 target and apply it to scattering on the polarized deuteron with spectator nucleon tagging. In Part I (this article) we present the general form of the semi-inclusive cross section and polarization observables for the spin-1 target. A relativistically covariant formulation in terms of four-vectors and invariant polarization parameters is employed. The target polarization is described by a spin density matrix with vector and tensor polarization. The spin and azimuthal angle dependence of the semi-inclusive cross section is derived and parametrized in terms of invariant structure functions. To validate the result, the structure functions are expressed as photon-target helicity amplitudes with known symmetry properties. The expressions presented here are kinematic (no assumptions about particle production dynamics) and valid in all regions of the deep-inelastic final state (current and target fragmentation regions). In Part II (following article), we consider deep-inelastic scattering on the polarized deuteron with spectator nucleon tagging as a special case of target fragmentation. The semi-inclusive structure functions are computed by separating nuclear and hadronic structure, and the polarization observables are explored as functions of the tagged nucleon momentum.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Semi-inclusive deep-inelastic scattering on a polarized spin-1 target. II. Deuteron and spectator nucleon tagging

We develop the theoretical framework for semi-inclusive deep-inelastic scattering on a polarized spin-1 target and apply it to scattering on the polarized deuteron with spectator nucleon tagging. In Part I (previous article), we present the general form of the semi-inclusive cross section and polarization observables for the spin-1 target. In Part II (this article), we consider deep-inelastic scattering on the polarized deuteron with spectator nucleon tagging as a special case of target fragmentation. Methods of light-front quantization are employed to separate nuclear and hadronic structure in the high-energy process and achieve a composite description. The light-front wave function of the polarized deuteron is obtained from a rotationally covariant three-dimensional wave function in the center-of-mass frame of the proton-neutron system. The tagged structure functions are computed in the impulse approximation. The momentum and spin distribution of the active nucleon are controlled by the deuteron polarization and the detected spectator momentum (𝐷/𝑆 wave ratio). The cross section and spin asymmetries are evaluated for general deuteron polarization (vector and tensor, longitudinal and transverse) as functions of the spectator momentum. Tensor-polarized spin asymmetries of order unity are achieved for spectator momenta of approximately 300 MeV, which select configurations with a large 𝐷 wave. Sum rules for the tagged spin structure functions are derived. The results can be used for simulations of spectator tagging in future polarized fixed-target experiments (Jefferson Lab) or at the Electron-Ion Collider.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Microscopic calculation of fission product yields with particle-number projection

Fission fragments' charge and mass distribution is an important input to applications ranging from basic science to energy production or nuclear nonproliferation. In simulations of nucleosynthesis or calculations of superheavy elements, these quantities must be computed from models, as they are needed in nuclei where no experimental information is available. Until now, standard techniques to estimate these distributions were not capable of accounting for fine-structure effects, such as the odd-even staggering of the charge distributions. In this work, we combine a fully microscopic collective model of fission dynamics with a recent extension of the particle number projection formalism to provide the highest-fidelity prediction of the primary fission fragment distributions for the neutron-induced fission of 235 U and 239 Pu. Here, we show that particle-number projection is an essential ingredient to reproduce odd-even staggering in the charge yields and benchmark the performance of various empirical probability laws that could simulate its effect. This new approach also enables for the first time the realistic determination of two-dimensional isotopic yields within nuclear density functional theory.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗