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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 469 records · Page 26
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2022

Exploring the S-process History in the Galactic Disk: Cerium Abundances and Gradients in Open Clusters from the OCCAM/APOGEE Sample

The APOGEE Open Cluster Chemical Abundances and Mapping survey is used to probe the chemical evolution of the s-process element cerium in the Galactic disk. Cerium abundances were derived from measurements of Ce ii lines in the APOGEE spectra using the Brussels Automatic Code for Characterizing High Accuracy Spectra in 218 stars belonging to 42 open clusters. Our results indicate that, in general, for ages < 4 Gyr, younger open clusters have higher [Ce/Fe] and [Ce/α-element] ratios than older clusters. In addition, metallicity segregates open clusters in the [Ce/X]–age plane (where X can be H, Fe, or the α-elements O, Mg, Si, or Ca). These metallicity-dependent relations result in [Ce/Fe] and [Ce/α] ratios with ages that are not universal clocks. Radial gradients of [Ce/H] and [Ce/Fe] ratios in open clusters, binned by age, were derived for the first time, with d[Ce/H]/dR GC being negative, while d[Ce/Fe]/dR GC is positive. [Ce/H] and [Ce/Fe] gradients are approximately constant over time, with the [Ce/Fe] gradient becoming slightly steeper, changing by ~+0.009 dex kpc -1 Gyr -1 . Both the [Ce/H] and [Ce/Fe] gradients are shifted to lower values of [Ce/H] and [Ce/Fe] for older open clusters. The chemical pattern of Ce in open clusters across the Galactic disk is discussed within the context of s-process yields from asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars, gigayear time delays in Ce enrichment of the interstellar medium, and the strong dependence of Ce nucleosynthesis on the metallicity of its AGB stellar sources.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2023

A Tale of Two Disks: Mapping the Milky Way with the Final Data Release of APOGEE

We present new maps of the Milky Way disk showing the distribution of metallicity ([Fe/H]), α-element abundances ([Mg/Fe]), and stellar age, using a sample of 66,496 red giant stars from the final data release (DR17) of the Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment survey. We measure radial and vertical gradients, quantify the distribution functions for age and metallicity, and explore chemical clock relations across the Milky Way for the low-α disk, high-α disk, and total population independently. The low-α disk exhibits a negative radial metallicity gradient of -0.06 ± 0.001 dex kpc -1 , which flattens with distance from the midplane. The high-α disk shows a flat radial gradient in metallicity and age across nearly all locations of the disk. The age and metallicity distribution functions shift from negatively skewed in the inner Galaxy to positively skewed at large radius. Significant bimodality in the [Mg/Fe]–[Fe/H] plane and in the [Mg/Fe]–age relation persist across the entire disk. The age estimates have typical uncertainties of ~0.15 in log(age) and may be subject to additional systematic errors, which impose limitations on conclusions drawn from this sample. Nevertheless, these results act as critical constraints on galactic evolution models, constraining which physical processes played a dominant role in the formation of the Milky Way disk. We discuss how radial migration predicts many of the observed trends near the solar neighborhood and in the outer disk, but an additional more dramatic evolution history, such as the multi-infall model or a merger event, is needed to explain the chemical and age bimodality elsewhere in the Galaxy.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Neutron-capture Element Abundances of 491 Stars in Milky Way Dwarf Satellite Galaxies from Medium-resolution Spectra

The chemical compositions of evolved stars in Local Group dwarf spheroidal galaxies (dSphs) provide insight into the galaxy’s past star formation and nucleosynthesis. Neutron-capture element abundances are especially interesting. In particular, s-process elements can provide a third chemical clock for resolving star formation histories in addition to core-collapse and Type Ia supernovae. Likewise, the primary sites of the r-process are still areas of extensive research. Until now, the number of stars with neutron-capture element abundances in dSphs has been limited by the need for stars bright enough for high-resolution spectroscopy. We present abundance measurements of the neutron-capture elements Sr, Y, Ba, and Eu with errors <0.4 dex—as well as new measurements of Mg—in 491 stars in Sculptor, Fornax, Draco, Sextans, and Ursa Minor. The large number of stars in our sample is possible because we used medium-resolution spectra from the DEIMOS spectrograph, assembling the largest homogeneous set of neutron-capture abundances in dSphs to date. By utilizing the abundances of both s- and r-process elements, we find evidence of an s-process contribution at early times in Sculptor from our measurements of [Ba/Fe]. This is a potential signature of s-process nucleosynthesis in fast-rotating massive stars. By comparing our measurements of [Eu/Fe] with [Mg/Fe], we show the need for an r-process source that has a short delay time to enrich stars in the dSphs. Thus, neutron star mergers are likely not the sole source of r-process material in dSphs.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2023

The NANOGrav 15 yr Data Set: Search for Signals from New Physics

The 15 yr pulsar timing data set collected by the North American Nanohertz Observatory for Gravitational Waves (NANOGrav) shows positive evidence for the presence of a low-frequency gravitational-wave (GW) background. In this paper, we investigate potential cosmological interpretations of this signal, specifically cosmic inflation, scalar-induced GWs, first-order phase transitions, cosmic strings, and domain walls. We find that, with the exception of stable cosmic strings of field theory origin, all these models can reproduce the observed signal. When compared to the standard interpretation in terms of inspiraling supermassive black hole binaries (SMBHBs), many cosmological models seem to provide a better fit resulting in Bayes factors in the range from 10 to 100. However, these results strongly depend on modeling assumptions about the cosmic SMBHB population and, at this stage, should not be regarded as evidence for new physics. Furthermore, we identify excluded parameter regions where the predicted GW signal from cosmological sources significantly exceeds the NANOGrav signal. These parameter constraints are independent of the origin of the NANOGrav signal and illustrate how pulsar timing data provide a new way to constrain the parameter space of these models. Finally, we search for deterministic signals produced by models of ultralight dark matter (ULDM) and dark matter substructures in the Milky Way. We find no evidence for either of these signals and thus report updated constraints on these models. In the case of ULDM, these constraints outperform torsion balance and atomic clock constraints for ULDM coupled to electrons, muons, or gluons.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Spin-squeezed vector atomic magnetometry

Atomic magnetometers based on Zeeman shift measurement have the potential for high sensitivity and long-term stability. Like other atomic sensors, including atomic clocks and atom interferometers, the atomic magnetometer could, in principle, be augmented with spin squeezing for further sensitivity enhancement. However, existing atomic magnetometers are not compatible with spin squeezing because the atoms can hardly be in a pure quantum state during operation. Moreover, a natural challenge faced by an atomic magnetometer is the arbitrary direction of the magnetic field. In this paper, we propose a cold-atom-based magnetometer with spin squeezing that can measure both the magnitude and the direction of an arbitrary magnetic field. For experimentally accessible parameters, we show that the technique described above could potentially achieve a sensitivity nearly two orders of magnitude higher than that of the best existing magnetometers.

Li, Jinyang [Northwestern U.] (ORCID:0000000194328↗
DOE OSTI2025

In-situ mid-circuit qubit measurement and reset in a single-species trapped-ion quantum computing system

We implement in-situ mid-circuit measurement and reset (MCMR) operations on a trapped-ion quantum computing system by using metastable qubit states in $^{171}\textrm{Yb}^+$ ions. We introduce and compare two methods for isolating data qubits from measured qubits: one shelves the data qubit into the metastable state and the other drives the measured qubit to the metastable state without disturbing the other qubits. We experimentally demonstrate both methods on a crystal of two $^{171}\textrm{Yb}^+$ ions using both the $S_{1/2}$ ground state hyperfine clock qubit and the $S_{1/2}$-$D_{3/2}$ optical qubit. These MCMR methods result in errors on the data qubit of about $2\%$ without degrading the measurement fidelity. With straightforward reductions in laser noise, these errors can be suppressed to less than $0.1\%$. The demonstrated method allows MCMR to be performed in a single-species ion chain without shuttling or additional qubit-addressing optics, greatly simplifying the architecture.

Atomic Physics (physics.atom-ph)↗
DOE OSTI2026

Identification and mitigation of memory block timing issue in ITk ABCStar during ASIC production

The ABCStar is a mixed-signal front-end readout ASIC for the strips sensor portion of the ATLAS ITk detector being developed as part of the High-Luminosity LHC upgrade. In pre-production testing, a subtle design flaw was uncovered in the ABCStar that was reducing wafer yields in some manufactured lots from the expected 90% to as low as 2%. The root cause was determined to be a timing issue in the logic synthesized to control previously silicon proven memory blocks re-used for this ASIC. The solutions proposed included manufacturing process changes by the wafer foundry, changes to the operating parameters for the ABCStar in the detector, and the possibility that a redesign might be required. The two mitigation efforts were undertaken in parallel, with the process modification route a less desirable solution since already manufactured wafers would need to be scrapped in favour of the new ones. Based on a knowledge of the existing process, and testing done on the worst performing wafers, it was proposed that raising the core operating voltage of the ABCStar from 1.20V to 1.25V could address the timing issue by sufficiently speeding up its transistors. An extensive testing program that included the effects of temperature and radiation expected over the lifetime of the ITk detector was conducted to validate that approach. Those tests and studies proved that even the worst performing wafers would have yields over 80% with the 1.25V core voltage, and neither the modified process nor redesign would be required for ensuring reliable operation of the ITk. Based on testing, a further timing mitigation was implemented to provide an additional margin of reliability by increasing the duty cycle of the clock to the ABCStar. Testing of all ABCStar wafers has been completed and the production of the detector modules using these ASICs is now well underway as a result of the efforts detailed herein.

FOS: Physical sciences↗
DOE OSTI2026

Zooming in: SCREAM at 100 m using regional refinement over the San Francisco Bay Area

Pushing global climate models to large-eddy simulation (LES) scales over complex terrain has remained a major challenge. This study presents the first known implementation of a global model – SCREAM (Simple Cloud-Resolving E3SM Atmosphere Model) – at 100 m horizontal resolution using a regionally refined mesh (RRM) over the San Francisco Bay Area. Two hindcast simulations were conducted to test performance under both strong synoptic forcing and weak, boundary-layer-driven conditions. We demonstrate that SCREAM can stably run at LES scales while realistically capturing topography, surface heterogeneity, and coastal processes. The 100 m SCREAM-RRM substantially improves near-surface wind speed, temperature, humidity, and pressure biases compared to the baseline 3.25 km simulation, and better reproduces fine-scale wind oscillations and boundary-layer structures. These advances leverage SCREAM's scale-aware SHOC turbulence parameterization, which transitions smoothly across scales without tuning. Performance tests show that while CPU-only simulations remain costly, GPU acceleration with SCREAMv1 on NERSC's Perlmutter system enables two-day hindcasts to complete in under two wall-clock days. Our results open the door to LES-scale studies of orographic flows, boundary-layer turbulence, and coastal clouds within a fully comprehensive global modeling framework.

Geosciences↗
DOE OSTI2023

Modeling the U.S. Western Electric Interconnection to Understand the Consequences of Hydrometeorological Extremes and Options for Risk Mitigation

Electricity grid operators around the world face a dual challenge; withstanding increasingly severe weather and the longer term impacts of climate change, while simultaneously decarbonizing. Extreme weather events such as heat waves and droughts are rising in both severity and frequency, which is threatening the reliability of electricity grids through increased demand, generation capacity losses, and equipment failures. Consequently, incorporating hydrometeorological stressors into computational power systems analysis is becoming an even more critical tool in long term planning and short term operations. However, there is a general lack of open-source customizable grid simulation software capable of exhaustively stress testing the grid under hydrometeorological uncertainty, and/or examining potential risk mitigation pathways. A related, persistent challenge for power system modelers is striking an appropriate balance between model fidelity (e.g. spatial scale and time resolution) and computational tractability (wall clock run-time). In this study, we are proposing a solution to this problem with open-source software that allows users to seamlessly customize the scale and track the accuracy of grid operations models. Our approach allows users to search over numerous model parameters (network topology, mathematical formulation, economic hurdle rates, and transmission line scaling) to identify model instantiations that accommodate experimental design. Further, we use this approach to demonstrate the importance of including extreme weather events in model validation and model selection. Focusing on the occurrence of heatwaves and droughts in the U.S. Western Interconnection, we examine role of extreme events in balancing tradeoffs between model fidelity and run-time at the model design stage.

Economics↗
DOE OSTI2023

Spin Squeezing as a Probe of Emergent Quantum Orders

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments can reveal local properties in materials, but are often limited by the low signal-to-noise ratio. Spin squeezed states have an improved resolution below the Heisenberg limit in one of the spin components, and have been extensively used to improve the sensitivity of atomic clocks, for example [1]. Interacting and entangled spin ensembles with non-linear coupling are a natural candidate for implementing squeezing. Furthermore, we propose measurement of the spin-squeezing parameter that itself can act as a local probe of emergent orders in quantum materials. In particular, we demonstrate how to investigate an anisotropic electric field gradient via its coupling to the nuclear quadrupole moment. While squeezed spin states are pure, the squeezing parameter can be estimated for both pure and mixed states. We evaluate the range of fields and temperatures for which a thermal-equilibrium state is sufficient to improve the resolution in an NMR experiment and probe relevant parameters of the quadrupole Hamiltonian, including its anisotropy.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2022

Towards Fast and Accurate Predictions of Radio Frequency Power Deposition and Current Profile via Data-driven Modeling

Three machine learning techniques (multilayer perceptron, random forest, and Gaussian process) provide fast surrogate models for lower hybrid current drive (LHCD) simulations. A single GENRAY/CQL3D simulation without radial diffusion of fast electrons requires several minutes of wall-clock time to complete, which is acceptable for many purposes, but too slow for integrated modeling and real-time control applications. The machine learning models use a database of 16,000+ GENRAY/CQL3D simulations for training, validation, and testing. Latin hypercube sampling methods ensure that the database covers the range of 9 input parameters ($n_{e0}$, $T_{e0}$, $I_p$, $B_t$, $R_0$, $n_{||}$, $Z_{eff}$, $V_{loop}$, $P_{LHCD}$) with sufficient density in all regions of parameter space. The surrogate models reduce the inference time from minutes to ~ms with high accuracy across the input parameter space.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2020

Design and performance of an in-vacuum, magnetic field mapping system for the Muon g-2 experiment

The E989 Muon g-2 experiment at Fermilab aims to measure the anomalous magnetic moment, a$_\mu$, of the muon with a precision of 140 parts-per-billion. This requires a precise measurement of both the anomalous spin precession frequency, $\omega_a$, and the average magnetic field in terms of the equivalent, free proton Larmor frequency, $\omega_p$. The measurement of $\omega_p$ with a total systematic uncertainty of 70 parts-per-billion involves a combination of various NMR probes. There are 378 probes in fixed locations constantly monitoring field drifts. A water-based probe provides the calibration in terms of $\omega_p$. A crucial element for the multi-step measurement of $\omega_p$ is the regular mapping of the magnetic field over the muon storage region. The former E821 experiment at Brookhaven employed an in-vacuum field mapping system equipped with 17 NMR probes, which was developed by the University of Heidelberg. We have refurbished and upgraded this system with new probes and electronics. The upgrades include a new communication scheme incorporating time-division multiplexing to separate the important NMR reference clock from the data communication. The addition digitization of the NMR signals replaced the hardware-implemented zero-crossing counting of the E821 system. The digitized signals offer new capabilities in the NMR frequency analysis and its related systematic uncertainties. While the mechanical systems that move the field mapper around the ring have been mostly refurbished, the motion control system was completely replaced with a custom-built electronics centered around a commercial Galil motion controller. Both the field mapping NMR system and its motion control were successfully commissioned at Fermilab and have been in reliable operation during the first data taking periods. This article provides details of the upgrades of the field mapper and its performance.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2020

A New Scheme of Redundant Timing Crosschecking for Frontend Systems

In high energy physics experiments, frontend digitization modules are usually driven by a common clock. At the frontend electronics and digitization modules of the detector, a precise timing reference must establish in order to make a useful timing measurement. It would be very useful for the frontend digitization system to include a feature of redundant timing crosschecking. The inspiration for the timing crosschecking scheme came from the long-abandoned analog mean-timer schemes. In this scheme, several Front-end modules are connected together through a cable set with taps connected to the digitization modules. Pulses are driven from every FE modules alternately without overlapping. The arrival times of pulses sent from FE modules are digitized at the timing crosschecking module. The mean times will change as temperature changes, but their difference between two FE modules are cancelled mathematically. This feature enables easy achievement of good timing precision without the need for complex hardware.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2020

Method for active sensor signal optimization

A system and method for optimizing a fiber optic sensor by properly clocking or rotationally orienting a window with a fiber optic focuser. This method may include shining light through the focuser into the window and receiving with a reflectometer a first reflection from a first surface of the window and a second reflection from a second surface of the window. Next, the method may include calculating a delta of intensities between the first and second reflections, and then rotating an orientation of the window to a next rotational orientation. The steps of rotating the orientation of the window, receiving reflections, and calculating their delta may be repeated any plurality of times to solve for a plurality of deltas. Then, the method may include the steps of determining which one of the deltas is the largest and fixing the window to the focuser at a rotational orientation associated therewith.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2020

Application of Dynamical System Scaling to Bubble Dynamics

Dynamical System Scaling (DSS) provides a useful method for analyzing, categorizing and scaling time-dependent processes. A key feature of DSS is the temporal displacement rate, D, which relates the natural process time to the reference clock time. Because of its property of being invariant under a two-parameter affine transformation, it provides an underlying basis for process scaling. Application of DSS to bubble dynamics serves to elucidate the physical significance of the temporal displacement rate and its role in scaling a variety of bubble dynamics processes. This paper shows that the temporal displacement rate consists of the sum of dimensionless groups that govern the bubble dynamics. Preserving the temporal displacement rate for a prototype and a scaled model results in similitude of the time-dependent normalized bubble size, growth rates and interfacial accelerations for different fluid conditions. For vapor bubble growth in a superheated liquid, it is shown that inertial controlled bubble growth occurs when D=0 and thermally controlled bubble growth occurs when D=1 .

dynamical system scaling, SMR, bubble dynamics, DS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Pulsed start-up system for electrostatic generators

A new rotor start-up system is provided for application to rotating systems such as stationary or vehicular electromechanical battery systems. An embodiment of the system consists of a “locator” that includes a stationary permanent-magnet pole above which is a circular ferromagnetic (e.g., iron) strip embedded in the lower, inner edge of the flywheel rotor. The lower edge of this strip is wave-like so that the magnet can pull the rotor around to a position where the position relative to the minimum capacity between the rotor and stator electrodes is such as to launch the rotor in a chosen direction, i.e., either clock-wise or counter-clockwise. Startup from rest is then accomplished by applying a short high-voltage ac or dc pulse to the EMB capacitor.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2020

Modular scalable power conversion

A cascaded architecture composed of interconnected blocks that are each designed to process constant power and eliminate bulk energy storage are provided. Further, local controls within each block natively achieve both block- and system-level aims, making the system modular and scalable. Further methods of providing power conversion using such interconnected clocks are also provided.

Maksimovic, Dragan↗
DOE OSTI2021

A Novel Decentralized PWM Interleaving Technique for Ripple Minimization in Series-Stacked DC-DC Converters: Preprint

Cascaded dc-dc converters are commonly used in applications where distributed energy sources or loads are connected to elevated voltage levels for power transfer. In such systems, it is advantageous to minimize the ripple on the bus current and voltage by proper phase shifting of the pulse-width modulation (PWM) pulses among the converters via a method known as interleaving. Existing approaches use either a centralized controller or separate communication lines among the stacked converters to control their relative PWM switch transitions. The key drawbacks are that these methods entail significant wiring, the central controller acts as a single point of failure, and implementation on very large numbers of units is impractical. In this paper, we introduce a decentralized interleaving control (DIC) strategy that acts on local current measurements at every converter and achieves communication-free PWM interleaving among the series-stacked converters. The proposed controller is simple in structure and is shown to converge asymptotically to the interleaved state irrespective of clock drifts among the digital signal processors. Experimental results are provided for a system of five series-connected converters showing a 10 times reduction in the current ripple compared to normal operation.

41 EE - Solar Energy Technologies Office (EE-4S)↗