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At least 469 records · Page 26

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NASA NTRS1997

Residual Stress Measurements After Proof and Flight: ETP-0403

The intent of this testing was to evaluate the residual stresses that occur in and around the attachment details of a case stiffener segment that has been subjected to flight/recovery followed by proof loading. Not measured in this test were stresses relieved at joint disassembly due to out-of-round and interference effects, and those released by cutting the specimens out of the case segment. The test article was lightweight case stiffener segment 1U50715, S/N L023 which was flown in the forward stiffener position on flight SRM 14A and in the aft position on flight SRM24A. Both of these flights were flown with the 3 stiffener ring configuration. Stiffener L023 had a stiffener ring installed only on the aft stub in its first flight, and it had both rings installed on its second flight. No significant post flight damage was found on either flight. Finally, the segment was used on the DM-8 static test motor in the forward position. No stiffener rings were installed. It had only one proof pressurization prior to assignment to its first use, and it was cleaned and proof tested after each flight. Thus, the segment had seen 3 proof tests, two flight pressurizations, and two low intensity water impacts prior to manufacturing for use on DM-8. On DM-8 it received one static firing pressurization in the horizontal configuration. Residual stresses at the surface and in depth were evaluated by both the x-ray diffraction and neutron beam diffraction methods. The x-ray diffraction evaluations were conducted by Technology for Energy Corporation (TEC) at their facilities in Knoxville, TN. The neutron beam evaluations were done by Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) at the Chalk River Nuclear Laboratories in Ontario. The results showed general agreement with relatively high compressive residual stresses on the surface and moderate to low subsurface tensile residual stresses.

Webster, Ronald L..↗

NASA NTRS2007

Method for Texturing Surfaces of Optical Fiber Sensors Used for Blood Glucose Monitoring

Disclosed is a method and the resulting product thereof comprising a solid light-conducting fiber with a point of attachment and having a textured surface site consisting a textured distal end prepared by being placed in a vacuum and then subjected to directed hyperthermal beams comprising oxygen ions or atoms. The textured distal end comprises cones or pillars that are spaced upon from each other by less than 1 micron and are extremely suitable to prevent cellular components of blood from entering the valleys between the cones or pillars so as to effectively separate the cellular components in the blood from interfering with optical sensing of the glucose concentration for diabetic patients.

Banks, Bruce A.↗

DOE OSTI2022

Accurate determination of the electron spin polarization in magnetized iron and nickel foils for Møller polarimetry

The Møller polarimeter in Hall A at Jefferson Lab in Newport News, VA, has provided reliable measurements of electron beam polarization for the past two decades. Past experiments have typically required polarimetry at the 1% level of absolute uncertainty which the Møller polarimeter has delivered. However, the upcoming proposed experimental program including MOLLER and SoLID have stringent requirements on beam polarimetry precision at the level of 0.4% (The MOLLER Collaboration, 2014; The SoLID collaboration, 2019), requiring a systematic re-examination of all the contributing uncertainties. Møller polarimetry uses the double polarized scattering asymmetry of a polarized electron beam on a target with polarized atomic electrons. The target is a ferromagnetic material magnetized to align the spins in a given direction. In Hall A, the target is a pure iron foil aligned perpendicular to the beam and magnetized out of plane parallel or antiparallel to the beam direction. The acceptance of the detector is engineered to collect scattered electrons close to 90° in the center of mass frame where the analyzing power is a maximum (-7/9). One of the leading systematic errors comes from determination of the target foil polarization. Polarization of a magnetically saturated target foil requires knowledge of both the saturation magnetization and g', the electron g-factor which includes components from both spin and orbital angular momentum from which the spin fraction of magnetization is determined. Target foil polarization has been previously addressed in a 1997 publication “A precise target for Møller polarimetry” by de Bever et al. (1997) at a level of precision sufficient for experiments up to this point. Several shortcomings with the previous published value require revisiting the result prior to MOLLER. Here, we utilize the existing world data to provide a best estimate for target polarization for both nickel and iron foils including uncertainties in magnetization, high-field and temperature dependence, and fractional contribution to magnetization from orbital effects. We determine the foil electron spin polarization at 294 K to be 0.08020 ± 0.00018 (@4 T applied field) for iron and 0.018845+/-0.000053 (@2 T applied field) for nickel. Finally, we conclude with a brief discussion of additional systematic uncertainties to Møller polarimetry using this technique.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

DOE OSTI2025

Site-specific plan-view (S)TEM sample preparation from thin films using a dual-beam FIB-SEM

To fully evaluate the atomic structure, and associated properties of materials using transmission electron microscopy, examination of samples from three non-collinear orientations is needed. This is particularly challenging for thin films and nanoscale devices built on substrates due to limitations with plan-view sample preparation. In this work, a new method for preparation of high-quality, site-specific, plan-view TEM samples from thin-films grown on substrates, is presented and discussed. Here, it is based on using a dual-beam focused ion beam scanning electron microscope (FIB-SEM) system. To demonstrate the method, the samples were prepared from thin films of perovskite oxide BaSnO 3 grown on a SrTiO 3 substrate and metal oxide IrO 2 on a TiO 2 substrate, ranging from 20–80 nm in thicknesses using molecular beam epitaxy. While the method is optimized for the thin films, it can be extended to other site-specific plan-view samples and devices build on wafers. Aberration-corrected STEM was used to evaluate the quality of the samples and their applicability for atomic-resolution imaging and analysis.

BaSnO3↗

DOE OSTI2020

Doping transition-metal atoms in graphene for atomic-scale tailoring of electronic, magnetic, and quantum topological properties

Atomic-scale fabrication is an outstanding challenge and overarching goal for the nanoscience community. The practical implementation of moving and fixing atoms to a structure is non-trivial considering that one must spatially address the positioning of single atoms, provide a stabilizing scaffold to hold structures in place, and understand the details of their chemical bonding. Free-standing graphene offers a simplified platform for the development of atomic-scale fabrication and the focused electron beam in a scanning transmission electron microscope can be used to locally induce defects and sculpt the graphene. In this scenario, the graphene forms the stabilizing scaffold and the experimental question is whether a range of dopant atoms can be attached and incorporated into the lattice using a single technique and, from a theoretical perspective, we would like to know which dopants will create technologically interesting properties. Here in this paper, we demonstrate that the electron beam can be used to selectively and precisely insert a variety of transition metal atoms into graphene with highly localized control over the doping locations. We use first-principles density functional theory calculations with direct observation of the created structures to reveal the energetics of incorporating metal atoms into graphene and their magnetic, electronic, and quantum topological properties.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2019

Monte Carlo simulation of nanoscale material focused ion beam gas-assisted etching: Ga + and Ne + etching of SiO 2 in the presence of a XeF 2 precursor gas

Elucidating energetic particle-precursor gas–solid interactions is critical to many atomic and nanoscale synthesis approaches. Focused ion beam sputtering and gas-assisted etching are among the more commonly used direct-write nanomachining techniques that have been developed. Here, we demonstrate a method to simulate gas-assisted focused ion beam (FIB) induced etching for editing/machining materials at the nanoscale. The method consists of an ion–solid Monte Carlo simulation, to which we have added additional routines to emulate detailed gas precursor–solid interactions, including the gas flux, adsorption, and desorption. Furthermore, for the reactive etching component, a model is presented by which energetic ions/target atoms, and secondary electrons, transfer energy to adsorbed gas molecules. The simulation is described in detail, and is validated using analytical and experimental data for surface gas adsorption, and etching yields. The method is used to study XeF 2 assisted FIB induced etching of nanoscale vias, using both a 35 keV Ga + , and a 10 keV Ne + beam. Remarkable agreement between experimental and simulated nanoscale vias is demonstrated over a range of experimental conditions. Importantly, we demonstrate that the resolution depends strongly on the XeF 2 gas flux, with optimal resolution obtained for either pure sputtering, or saturated gas coverage; saturated gas coverage has the clear advantage of lower overall dose, and thus lower implant damage, and much faster processing.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2026

Directed Gas-Phase Formation of The Propargyl Family of Resonance-Stabilized Radicals in The Reactions of Ground-State Carbon Atoms (C; 3 P j ) with Butene Isomers (C 4 H 8 ): Dimethylpropargyl and Ethylpropargyl

The propargyl radical (C 3 H 3 ) is the simplest resonance-stabilized free radical (RSFR), but how does stepwise methyl substitution in the alkene reactant affect its dynamics of their formation? We report a crossed molecular beam study of the reactions of atomic carbon (C, 3 P j ) with four butene isomers (C 4 H 8 ) under single collision conditions at a collision energy of 28 ± 2 kJ mol −1 . Barrierless addition of atomic carbon to the alkene C=C bond triggers ring opening to triplet substituted allenes—a de facto insertion mechanism—followed by unimolecular decomposition via atomic hydrogen (H), methyl (CH 3 ) or ethyl (C 2 H 5 ) loss, yielding a family of propargyl‑type RSFRs. RRKM calculations reveal that the branching ratios are highly sensitive to the alkene structure. While the methyl loss channel, affording 1‑methylpropargyl, dominates for 2 butenes (80–90%), the predicted hydrogen atom loss channel (≈10%) leading to 1,3 dimethylpropargyl is identified in the experiment by comparison with theoretical energetics. For isobutene, a near‑equal competition is seen, with the reaction producing 3‑methylpropargyl (≈50%) and 1,1‑dimethylpropargyl (≈40%), along with 2‑vinylallyl (≈5%), whose formation is supported by the experimental data. Most notably, the reaction with 1 butene uniquely favors an enthalpically driven hydrogen shift, eventually producing 1 vinylallyl (≈38%), which is assigned based on the excellent agreement between the measured and calculated reaction exothermicity. Rapid entropically favored fragmentation channels yield ≈40% of propargyl type species (propargyl, 1- and 3-ethylpropargyls), slightly outcompeting the allyl type product. Furthermore, these results establish a systematic progression from C 2 H 4 to C 4 H 8 , where the increasing alkyl substitution unlocks new fragmentation channels, providing a versatile gas phase route to alkylated RSFRs—key intermediates in the growth of methylated and ethylated PAHs and aliphatic chains in combustion and cold interstellar environments (molecular clouds).

Alkyls↗

NASA NTRS1973

Neutral beam dose and sputtering characteristics in an ion implantation system

A technique and instrument design for calorimetric detection of the neutral atom content of a 60 keV argon ion beam. A beam sampling method is used to measure local heat flux to a small platinum wire at steady state; integration of power density profiles leads to a determination of equivalent neutral beam current. The fast neutral production occurs as a result of charge transfer processes in the region of the beam system between analyzing magnet and beam stop where the pressure remains less than .00001 torr. A description of the neutral beam detector is given in section along with a presentation of results. An elementary analysis of sputter material transport from target to substrate was performed; the analysis relates to semiconductor sputtering.

Roberts, A. S., Jr.↗

NASA NTRS1986

A measurement of the angular distribution of 5 eV atomic oxygen scattered off a solid surface in earth orbit

The angular distribution of 5 eV atomic oxygen scattered off a polished vitreous carbon surface was measured on a recent Space Shuttle flight. The experimental apparatus was of novel design, completely passive, and used thin silver films as the recording device for oxygen atoms. Most of the incident oxygen was contained in the reflected beam and remained in an active form and probably still atoms. Allowance was made for 12 percent loss of incident atoms which are converted to CO at the carbon surface. The scattered distribution which is wide lobular, peaking 15 deg in the forward direction, shows almost but not quite full accommodation.

Gregory, John C.↗

NASA NTRS1985

A ground-based experimental test program to duplicate and study the spacecraft glow phenomenon

The use of a plasma device, the Advanced Concepts Torus-I, for producing atoms and molecules to study spacecraft glow mechanisms is discussed. A biased metal plate, located in the plasma edge, is used to accelerate and neutralize plasma ions, thus generating a neutral beam with a flux approx. 5 x 10 to the 14th power/sq cm/sec at the end of a drift tube. Our initial experiments are to produce a 10 eV molecular and atomic nitrogen beam directed onto material targets. Photon emission in the spectral range 2000 to 9000 A from excited species formed on the target surface will be investigated.

Langer, W. D.↗

NASA NTRS1972

A fast electron gun for study of atomic decays.

A fast electron gun with subnanosecond rise and decay times and 100 mA peak beam current has been developed for delayed coincidence studies of atomic decays. The gun is fabricated from an inexpensive tetrode nuvistor, only slightly modified. The electron gun system has been successfully used in a delayed concidence study of fast decays of ionized helium.

Sutton, J. F.↗

DOE OSTI2025

An integrated photonic engine for programmable atomic control

Abstract Solutions for scalable, high-performance optical control are important for the development of scaled atom-based quantum technologies. Modulation of many individual optical beams is central to applying arbitrary gate and control sequences on arrays of atoms or atom-like systems. At telecom wavelengths, miniaturization of optical components via photonic integration has pushed the scale and performance of classical and quantum optics far beyond the limitations of bulk devices. However, material platforms for high-speed telecom integrated photonics lack transparency at the short wavelengths required by leading atomic systems. Here, we propose and implement a scalable and reconfigurable photonic control architecture using integrated, visible-light modulators based on thin-film lithium niobate. We combine this system with techniques in free-space optics and holography to demonstrate multi-channel, gigahertz-rate visible beamshaping. When applied to silicon-vacancy artificial atoms, our system enables the spatial and spectral addressing of a dynamically-selectable set of these stochastically-positioned point emitters.

Science & Technology - Other Topics↗

NASA NTRS1984

An atomic oxygen facility for studying polymer materials for spacecraft applications

A nozzle beam facility utilizing microwave discharge on a helium carrier gas seeded with oxygen to produce atomic oxygen fluxes of the order of 10 to the 15th power atoms/cu cm/sec is described. In addition, limited test results obtained from exposing a graphite/epoxy composite and Kapton (H) film are presented in terms of mass loss measurements and changes in surface morphology.

Tennyson, R. C.↗

DOE OSTI2025

Learning and Controlling Silicon Dopant Transitions in Graphene Using Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy

A machine learning approach is introduced to determine the transition dynamics of silicon atoms on a single layer of carbon atoms, when stimulated by the electron beam of a scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM). This method is data-centric, leveraging data collected on a STEM. The data samples are processed and filtered to produce symbolic representations, which is used to train a neural network to predict transition probabilities. These learned transition dynamics are then leveraged to guide a single silicon atom throughout the lattice to pre-determined target destinations. Empirical analyses are presented that demonstrate the efficacy and generality of the approach.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2019

Polarization measurements of Ne-like Mo 32+ x-ray lines excited by an electron beam

We present polarization measurements of the $2{{\rm{p}}}^{5}3{\rm{d}}$ 1 P 1 → 2p 6 1 S 0 resonance line of Ne-like Mo 32+ , commonly known as 3C, as well as the $2{{\rm{p}}}^{5}3{\rm{d}}$ 3 D 1 → 2p 6 1 S 0 intercombination line, commonly known as 3D, as a function of the electron impact energy ranging from near threshold to 6 times threshold (2.75–15 keV). In addition, the x-ray line polarization of the $2{{\rm{p}}}^{5}3{\rm{p}}$ 3 D 2 → 2p 6 1 S 0 electric quadrupole forbidden line was measured at 3 and 4 keV. Excitation of these lines was achieved with the LLNL EBIT-I electron beam ion trap. The degree of polarization of the emission lines was derived by comparing spectra recorded with a flat Ge (111) crystal spectrometer, which is sensitive to polarization, to the spectra recorded by an x-ray calorimeter, which is insensitive to polarization. Here, the experimental measurements were compared to theoretical predictions produced using the Flexible Atomic Code, and good agreement was found.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

NASA NTRS1971

A fast electron gun for study of atomic decays

A fast electron gun with subanosecond rise- and decay-times and 100 ma. peak beam current has been developed for delayed coincidence studies of atomic decays. The gun is fabricated from an inexpensive tetrode Nuvistor, involving only slight modification.

Sutton, J. F.↗

DOE OSTI2020

Atomistic Positioning of Defects in Helium Ion Treated Single-Layer MoS 2

Structuring materials with atomic precision is the ultimate goal of nanotechnology and is becoming increasingly relevant as an enabling technology for quantum electronics/spintronics and quantum photonics. Here, we create atomic defects in monolayer MoS 2 by helium ion (He-ion) beam lithography with a spatial fidelity approaching the single-atom limit in all three dimensions. Using low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), we confirm the formation of individual point defects in MoS 2 upon He-ion bombardment and show that defects are generated within 9 nm of the incident helium ions. Atom-specific sputtering yields are determined by analyzing the type and occurrence of defects observed in high-resolution STM images and compared with Monte Carlo simulations. Both theory and experiment indicate that the He-ion bombardment predominantly generates sulfur vacancies.

Two-dimensional materials↗

NASA NTRS1993

Erosion rate diagnostics in ion thrusters using laser-induced fluorescence

We have used laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) to monitor the charge-exchange ion erosion of the molybdenum accelerator electrode in ion thrusters. This real-time, nonintrusive method was implemented by operating a 30cm-diam ring-cusp thruster using xenon propellant. With the thruster operating at a total power of 5 kW, laser radiation at a wavelength of 390 nm (corresponding to a ground state atomic transition of molybdenum) was directed through the extracted ion beam adjacent to the downstream surface of the molybdenum accelerator electrode. Molybdenum atoms, sputtered from this surface as a result of charge-exchange ion erosion, were excited by the laser radiation. The intensity of the laser-induced fluorescence radiation, which is proportional to the sputter rate of the molybdenum atoms, was measured and correlated with variations in thruster operating conditions such as accelerator electrode voltage, accelerator electrode current, and test facility background pressure. We also demonstrated that the LIF technique has sufficient sensitivity and spatial resolution to evaluate accelerator electrode lifetime in ground-based test facilities.

Gaeta, C. J.↗