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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 505 records · Page 28

Fairfield Plume Measurement and Analysis on the NASA-300M and NASA-300MS

NASA is developing a 10- to 15-kW Hall thruster system to support future NASA missions. This activity is funded under the Space Technology Mission Directorate Solar Electric Propulsion Technology Demonstration Mission project. As a part of the development process, the NASA-300M, a 20-kW Hall thruster, was modified to incorporate the magnetic shielding concept and named the NASA-300MS. This activity was undertaken to assess the viability of using the magnetic shielding concept on a high-power Hall thruster to greatly reduce discharge channel erosion. This paper reports on the study to characterize the far-field plumes of the NASA-300M and NASA-300MS. Diagnostics deployed included a polarlyswept Faraday probe, a Wien filter (ExB probe), a retarding potential analyzer, and a Langmuir probe. During the study, a new, more accurate, integration method for analyzing Wien filter probe data was implemented and effect of secondary electron emission on the Faraday probe data was treated. Comparison of the diagnostic results from the two thrusters showed that the magnetically shielded version performed with ~2 percent higher voltage utilization efficiency, ~2 percent lower plume divergence efficiency, and ~2 percent lower mass utilization efficiency compared to the baseline version. The net change in efficiency is within the aggregate measurement uncertainty so the overall performance is roughly equal for the two versions of the thruster. Anode efficiency calculated from thrust stand measurement corroborates this finding.

Hall thruster↗

Spacecraft Charging Sensitivity to Material Properties

Evaluating spacecraft charging behavior of a vehicle in the space environment requires knowledge of the material properties relevant to the charging process. Implementing surface and internal charging models requires a user to specify a number of material electrical properties including electrical resistivity parameters (dark and radiation induced), dielectric constant, secondary electron yields, photoemission yields, and breakdown strength in order to correctly evaluate the electric discharge threat posed by the increasing electric fields generated by the accumulating charge density. In addition, bulk material mass density and/or chemical composition must be known in order to analyze radiation shielding properties when evaluating internal charging. We will first describe the physics of spacecraft charging and show how uncertainties in material properties propagate through spacecraft charging algorithms to impact the results obtained from charging models. We then provide examples using spacecraft charging codes to demonstrate their sensitivity to material properties. The goal of this presentation is to emphasize the importance in having good information on relevant material properties in order to best characterize on orbit charging threats.

Minow, Joseph I.↗

Monte-Carlo Estimation of the Inflight Performance of the GEMS Satellite X-Ray Polarimeter

We report a Monte-Carlo estimation of the in-orbit performance of a cosmic X-ray polarimeter designed to be installed on the focal plane of a small satellite. The simulation uses GEANT for the transport of photons and energetic particles and results from Magboltz for the transport of secondary electrons in the detector gas. We validated the simulation by comparing spectra and modulation curves with actual data taken with radioactive sources and an X-ray generator. We also estimated the in-orbit background induced by cosmic radiation in low Earth orbit.

Monte-Carlo simulation↗

Nanostructure Neutron Converter Layer Development

Methods for making a neutron converter layer are provided. The various embodiment methods enable the formation of a single layer neutron converter material. The single layer neutron converter material formed according to the various embodiments may have a high neutron absorption cross section, tailored resistivity providing a good electric field penetration with submicron particles, and a high secondary electron emission coefficient. In an embodiment method a neutron converter layer may be formed by sequential supercritical fluid metallization of a porous nanostructure aerogel or polyimide film. In another embodiment method a neutron converter layer may be formed by simultaneous supercritical fluid metallization of a porous nanostructure aerogel or polyimide film. In a further embodiment method a neutron converter layer may be formed by in-situ metalized aerogel nanostructure development.

Park, Cheol↗

A Comparison of ARTEMIS Data with the Lunar Plasma Design Environment for NASA Crewed Missions

NASA’s Gateway will provide the capability for sustaining a human presence in cis-lunar space. Operations of the Gateway will include spacecraft dockings, extra vehicular activities (EVA), and high-power solar arrays. NASA’s experience with the International Space Station highlighted the importance of evaluating spacecraft charging effects for such operations. For crewed spacecraft, which tend to employ the use of dielectric surfaces in this dynamic plasma environment, reliance on spacecraft charging simulation packages, such as the NASA/Air Force Spacecraft Charging Analyzer Program (Nascap-2k) [Mandell et al., 2006] and Spacecraft Plasma Interaction System (SPIS) [Roussel et al., 2008], is required to understand the risks to hardware and humans. The variability in the lunar plasma environment as the Moon revolves around the Earth, lunar wake effects, and a strong dependency on photoemission and secondary electron emission creates challenges for spacecraft charging analysis. The Design Specification for Natural Environments (DSNE) [NASA, MSFC] is the primary resource for space environments affecting NASA’s crewed missions, and the DSNE provides plasma environments in a standard form for input into simulation packages. NASA developed the existing lunar plasma environment using data from Geotail [Nishida, 1994] along with published lunar plasma wake models [Halekas et al., 2005] based on Lunar Prospector. Since 2011, NASA’s twin Acceleration Reconnection Turbulence & Electrodynamics of Moon’s Interaction with the Sun (ARTEMIS) satellites [Angelopoulos, 2010] have been collecting high resolution plasma and fields observations within the lunar plasma environment providing a much larger dataset of the plasma properties in cislunar space. This research compares the existing lunar plasma environment definition with ARTEMIS data and makes recommendations on the refinement of the environment definition for future lunar missions.

ARTEMIS mission↗

A Computationally Efficient Algorithm for Sampling the Rudd Differential Cross Section

Monte Carlo radiation transport codes such as RITRACKS or Geant4 are used to simulate the interaction of ions with matter. These codes rely on sampling algorithms to determine interactions and various physical properties of particles involved in the simulations. It is crucial to develop efficient sampling algorithms since Monte Carlo radiation transport simulations can be time consuming. This work presents an efficient sampling algorithm to determine the energy of secondary electrons following ion-water interactions. The applicability and intended use of the algorithm are discussed in detail, and it is shown that the new algorithm is up to 6X10 4 times faster than the method currently used in Geant4-DNA.

Floriane Poignant↗

THERMAL ANALYSIS OF THE RHIC ARC DIPOLE MAGNET COLD MASS WITH THE EIC BEAM SCREEN

The EIC will make use of the existing RHIC storage rings with their superconducting (SC) magnet arcs. A stain-less-steel beam screen with co-laminated copper and a thin amorphous carbon (aC) film on the inner surface will be installed in the beam pipe of the SC magnets. The copper will reduce the beam-induced resistive-wall (RW) heating from operation with the higher intensity EIC beams, that if not addressed would make the magnets quench. Limiting the RW heating is also important to achieve an adequately low vacuum level. The aC coating will reduce secondary electron yield which could also cause heating and limit in-tensity. Among all the RHIC SC magnets, the arc dipoles present the biggest challenge to the design and installation of beam screens. The arc dipoles, which make up for 78% (2.5 km) length of all SC magnets in RHIC, expect the larg-est RW heating due to their smallest aperture. These mag-nets are also the longest (9.45 m each), thus experiencing the largest temperature rise over their length, and have a large sagitta (48.5 mm) that increases the difficulty to in-stall the beam screen in place. This paper presents a de-tailed thermal analysis of the magnet-screen system.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Atomic layer deposition of fluoride thin films

A secondary electron emissive coating. The coating is formed by atomic layer deposition of CaF 2 on a substrate by ALD half cycle exposure of an alkaline metal amidinate and ALD half cycle exposure of a fluorinated compound, where the deposition occurs at a reaction temperature greater than a highest sublimation temperature of the first metal precursor and the second metal precursor and less than 50° C. above the highest sublimation temperature.

Elam, Jeffrey W.↗

Method of enhancing a DLC coated surface for enhanced multipaction resistance

A method for creating an enhanced multipaction resistant diamond-like coating (DLC) coating with lower Secondary Electron Emission (SEE) properties is performed on an initial surface by etching a DLC coating deposited on the surface after deposition and optionally creating interlayers to enhance adhesion mechanical properties between the DLC coating and the initial surface.

Nichol, Robert Michael↗

Target Multiwire for the Fermilab Booster Neutrino Beamline

The Booster Neutrino Beamline experiment re-quested a new secondary electron emission multiwire profile monitor installation. The device had to be durable in high radiation conditions and mounted within a large 10-foot airtight steel fixture for installation near the beam target. Previous iterations of multiwire suffered radiation damage to both the connectors and wires. To ensure accurate horizontal and vertical beam profile measurements, an updated design was pro-posed, designed, and constructed. The new BNB multiwire utilizes 3 mil diameter gold-plated tungsten sense wires soldered to vertical and horizontal Alumi-na-96 ceramic planes, 50 wires per plane. Radiation hard Kapton insulated 30-gauge wires carry the output signals. Profiles are readout through charge integrator scanner electronics. This paper will detail the design and functionality of the BNB target multiwire and present relevant beam profile data.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Barrier coatings

A secondary electron emissive layer resistant to infiltration and fouling. A barrier layer is formed by atomic layer deposition. The barrier layer may be an emissive layer and/or an interlayer. The barrier layer may form an interlayer that is a part of an electron amplifier positioned between an emissive layer and a resistive layer. The barrier layer is resistive to fluorine migration from either the emissive layer or the resistive layer.

Source record↗

Oxidation of Materials and Coatings at 1000°C and 250 bar for use in Oxy-Combustion Turbine

Combinations of materials and coatings were tested in supercritical CO2 (sCO2) to evaluate their reliability in an oxy-fuel turbine being designed to operate in the 150-300 MWe size range at inlet temperatures of 1,150 °C at 300 bar and exhaust temperatures in the 725-775 °C range. Nickel alloys and stainless steels were exposed to supercritical CO2 at 1,000 °C and 250 bar for a total of over 1,500 hours. The materials were tested bare, with a nanocrystalline MCrAlY bond coat only, or with one of two types of bond coat and a thermal barrier coating. A novel test facility using a localized heat zone generated by an induction heater inside an externally cooled autoclave was developed to perform those tests. The specimens were weighed before and after exposure to determine the oxidation rate. All specimens were inspected visually, and a smaller group of coated specimens were studied using secondary electron microscopy (SEM). The integrity of the coating, and the morphology and composition of the thermally grown oxide were especially of interest for the SEM investigation. This paper presents the up-to-date results of the testing coated and uncoated superalloys in sCO2 at up to 1150 °C and up to 300 bar performed at Southwest Research Institute.

Bocher, Florent [Southwest Research Institute, San↗

1D EDIPIC

EDIPIC codes were developed for simulation of kinetic effects in low-temperature plasmas. They can be used for simulation of plasmas in electrostatic approximation and include many atomistic and plasma-surface interaction processes needed for simulations of low temperature plasmas. These codes include a detailed model of secondary electron emission induced by electrons and ions. The Monte-Carlo model of electron-neutral collisions and the Langevin model of Coulomb collisions for electrons are also implemented.

Sydorenko, Dmytro↗

EDIPIC-2D

EDIPIC codes were developed for simulation of kinetic effects in low-temperature plasmas. They can be used for simulation of plasmas in electrostatic approximation and include many atomistic and plasma-surface interaction processes needed for simulations of low temperature plasmas. These codes include a detailed model of secondary electron emission induced by electrons and ions. The Monte-Carlo model of electron-neutral collisions and the Langevin model of Coulomb collisions for electrons are also implemented.

Sydorenko, Dmytro↗

Secondary structure determines electron transport in peptides

Proteins play a key role in biological electron transport, but the structure–function relationships governing the electronic properties of peptides are not fully understood. Despite recent progress, understanding the link between peptide conformational flexibility, hierarchical structures, and electron transport pathways has been challenging. Here, we use single-molecule experiments, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, nonequilibrium Green’s function-density functional theory (NEGF-DFT), and unsupervised machine learning to understand the role of secondary structure on electron transport in peptides. Our results reveal a two-state molecular conductance behavior for peptides across several different amino acid sequences. MD simulations and Gaussian mixture modeling are used to show that this two-state molecular conductance behavior arises due to the conformational flexibility of peptide backbones, with a high-conductance state arising due to a more defined secondary structure (beta turn or 3 10 helices) and a low-conductance state occurring for extended peptide structures. These results highlight the importance of helical conformations on electron transport in peptides. Conformer selection for the peptide structures is rationalized using principal component analysis of intramolecular hydrogen bonding distances along peptide backbones. Molecular conformations from MD simulations are used to model charge transport in NEGF-DFT calculations, and the results are in reasonable qualitative agreement with experiments. Projected density of states calculations and molecular orbital visualizations are further used to understand the role of amino acid side chains on transport. Overall, our results show that secondary structure plays a key role in electron transport in peptides, which provides broad avenues for understanding the electronic properties of proteins.

Science & Technology - Other Topics↗

An Intelligent Power Electronic System for Secondary Use Batteries

This paper presents a plug-and-play power electronic system for integration of multiple energy storage system technologies. The system uses a communication and control architecture with individual developed modules to support scaling to larger systems for the electric grid. An optimization framework is also presented to demonstrate the functionality of the system. This system is shown to work in hardware with a constructed testbed to demonstrate different use cases and systems. Results are presented for a full efficiency cycle test.

Starke, Michael↗

Reestimation of the production spectra of cosmic ray secondary positrons and electrons in the ISM

A detailed calculation of the production spectra of charged hadrons produced by interactions of cosmic rays in the interstellar medium is presented along with a thorough treatment of pion and muon decays. Newly parameterized inclusive cross sections of hadrons were used and exact kinematic limitations were taken into account. Single parametrized expressions for the production spectra of both secondary positrons and electrons in the energy range .1 to 100 GeV are presented. The results are compared with other authors' predictions. Equilibrium spectra using various models are also presented.

Wong, C. M.↗