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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
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2014

Vibrationally specific photoionization cross sections of acrolein leading to the Χ{sup ~}A{sup '} ionic state

The vibrational branching ratios in the photoionization of acrolein for ionization leading to the Χ{sup ~}A{sup '} ion state were studied. Computed logarithmic derivatives of the cross section and the corresponding experimental data derived from measured vibrational branching ratios for several normal modes (ν{sub 9}, ν{sub 10}, ν{sub 11}, and ν{sub 12}) were found to be in relatively good agreement, particularly for the lower half of the 11–100 eV photon energy range considered. Two shape resonances have been found near photon energies of 15.5 and 23 eV in the photoionization cross section and have been demonstrated to originate from the partial cross section of the A{sup ′} scattering symmetry. The wave functions computed at the resonance complex energies are delocalized over the whole molecule. By looking at the dependence of the cross section on the different normal mode displacements together with the wave function at the resonant energy, a qualitative explanation is given for the change of the cross sections with respect to changing geometry.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2015

Effect of wave function on the proton induced L XRP cross sections for {sub 62}Sm and {sub 74}W

The L{sub k}(k= 1, α, β, γ) X-ray production cross sections have been calculated for {sub 74}W and {sub 62}Sm at different incident proton energies ranging 1-5 MeV using theoretical data sets of different physical parameters, namely, the Li(i=1-3) sub-shell X-ray emission rates based on the Dirac-Fork (DF) model, the fluorescence and Coster Kronig yields based on the Dirac- Hartree-Slater (DHS) model and two sets the proton ionization cross sections based on the DHS model and the ECPSSR in order to assess the influence of the wave function on the XRP cross sections. The calculated cross sections have been compared with the measured cross sections reported in the recent compilation to check the reliability of the calculated values.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2016

Following electron impact excitations of single Os, Pt, Hg, Pb and Po atom L subshells ionization cross section calculations by using Lotz’s equation

L shell ionization cross section and {sub Li} subshells ionization cross sections of Os, Pt, Hg, Pb, Po atoms calculated. For each atom, ten different electron impacty energy values E{sub oi} used. Calculations carried out by using nonrelativistic Lotz equation in Matlab. Ionization cross section values obtained for Eoi values in the energy range of E{sub Li} ≤E{sub oi}≤4E{sub Li} for each atom. Starting allmost from E{sub oi} = E{sub Li} (i = 1,2,3) values of the each subshell ionization threshold energy, ionization cross section are increasing rapidly with E{sub oi}. For a fixed E{sub oi} = 3. E{sub Li} values, while Z increases from Z = 76 to Z = 84, ionization cross section are decrease. These results help to understand some results which obtained from other electron-sigle atom impact studies on σ{sub Li} subshells.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2021

Application of molecular convergent close-coupling cross sections in a collisional radiative model for the triplet system of molecular hydrogen

Collisional radiative (CR) models for molecular hydrogen are of high relevance for performing qualitative and quantitative analysis of excited-state population densities measured in plasmas or predicting the dependence of plasma emission on parameter variations. Although the development of such models for H 2 started decades ago, major uncertainties still exist regarding the most important set of input parameters, namely the cross sections for electron-impact excitation. The deviations between cross sections from different datasets are particularly pronounced in the energy region close to the threshold energy, strongly increasing the uncertainty of CR models applied to low-temperature plasmas. This paper presents experimental validation of a set of newly calculated non ro-vibrationally resolved electron-impact cross sections calculated for the triplet system of H 2 using the molecular convergent close-coupling method in the adiabatic-nuclei formulation. These cross sections are implemented into a CR model based on the flexible solver Yacora. A first comparison of CR calculations with the different datasets to experimentally-determined population densities is performed at a planar ICP discharge for varying pressure (between 1 and 10 Pa) and RF power (between 700 and 1100 W). For the experimentally-accessible electron temperature and density range (2.5–10 eV and 1.8–3.3 × 10 16 m –3 , respectively), very good agreement between the model and experiment is obtained using the new data set, in contrast to previously used cross sections.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2014

SU-E-T-334: Track Structure Simulations of Charged Particles at Low and Intermediate Energies: Cross Sections Needs for Light and Heavy Ions

Purpose/Methods: Monte Carlo (MC) track structure simulations follow the primary as well as all produced secondary particles in an event-by-event manner, from starting or ejection energy down to total stopping. They provide useful information on physics and chemistry of the biological response to radiation. They depend on reliable interaction cross sections and transport models of the considered radiation quality with biologically relevant materials. Most transport models focus on sufficiently fast and bare (i.e., fully ionized) ions and cross sections calculated within the (relativistic) first Born or Bethe approximations. These theories consider the projectile as a point particle and rely on proton cross sections and simple charge-scaling methods; they neglect the atomic nature of the ion and break down at low and intermediate ion energies. Heavier ions are used in particle therapy and slow to intermediate and low energies in the biologically interesting Bragg peak. Lighter and slower fragment ions, including alpha particles, protons, and neutrons are also produced in nuclear and break up reactions of charged particles. Secondary neutrons also produce recoil protons and ions, mainly in the intermediate energy range. Results/Conclusion: This work reviews existing models for track structure simulations and cross section calculations for light and heavy ions focusing on the low and intermediate energy range. It also presents new and updated aspects on cross section calculations and simulation techniques for ions and discusses the need for new models, calculations, and experimental data.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2018

Integrated Cross Sections of High-Energy e{sup +}e{sup –} Pair Electroproduction by an Electron in an Atomic Field

The integrated cross sections of e{sup +}e{sup –} pair electroproduction by an ultrarelativistic electron in an atomic field are studied. The importance of various contributions to the integrated cross sections is discussed. The Coulomb corrections have turned out to make a large contribution to both differential and integrated cross sections even at moderate values of the nuclear charge number. The interaction of the electron emitting a virtual photon with the atomic field is shown to contribute significantly to the cross sections differential with respect to the electron transverse momentum. However, this interaction affects only slightly the cross section differential only with respect to the positron transverse momentum.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2016

Progress on FP13 Total Cross Section Measurements Capability

An accurate knowledge of the neutron capture cross section is important for many applications. Experimental measurements are important since theoretical calculations of capture have been notoriously difficult, with the ratio of measured to calculated cross sections often a factor of 2 or more in the 10 keV to 1 MeV region. However, a direct measurement of capture cannot be made on many interesting radioactive nuclides because of their short half-life or backgrounds caused by their nuclear decay. On the other hand, neutron transmission measurements of the total cross section are feasible for a wide range of radioactive nuclides since the detectors are far from the sample, and often are less sensitive to decay radiation. The parameters extracted from a total cross section measurement, which include the average resonance spacing, the neutron strength function, and the average total radiation width, (Γ γ ), provide tight constraints on the calculation of the capture cross section, and when applied produce much more accurate results. These measurements can be made using the intense epithermal neutron flux at the Lujan Center on relatively small quantities of target material. It was the purpose of this project to investigate and develop the capability to make these measurements. A great deal of progress was made towards establishing this capability during 2016, including setting up the flight path and obtaining preliminary results, but more work remains to be done.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
DOE OSTI2017

239Pu(n, 2n) and 241Pu(n, 2n) surrogate cross section measurements using NeutronSTARS

The goal of this project was to develop a new approach to measuring (n,2n) reactions for isotopes of interest. We set out to measure the 239 Pu(n,2n) and 241 Pu(n,2n) cross sections by directly detecting the 2n neutrons that are emitted. With the goal of improving the 239 Pu(n,2n) cross section and to measure the 241 Pu(n,2n) cross section for the first time. To that end, we have constructed a new neutron-charged-particle detector array called NeutronSTARS. It has been described extensively in Casperson et al. [1] and in Akindele et al. [2]. We have used this new neutron-charged-particle array to measure the 241 Pu and 239 Pu fission neutron multiplicity as a function of equivalent incident-neutron energy from 100 keV to 20 MeV. We have made a preliminary determination of the 239 Pu(n,2n) and 241 Pu(n,2n) cross sections from the surrogate 240 Pu(α,α’2n) and 242 Pu(α,α’2n) reactions respectively. The experimental approach, detector array, data analysis, and results to date are summarized in the following sections.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2018

Energy Futures Synthesis for West-Wide Section 368 Energy Corridors

To comply with Section 368(a) of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct), the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the U.S. Forest Service designated 6,000 miles of energy corridors on public and national forest lands in the western United States in 2009. The corridors, commonly referred to as 'West-wide' or 'Section 368' energy corridors, are intended as preferred locations for future siting of electric transmission and distribution lines and for oil, gas, and hydrogen pipelines. In response to a lawsuit filed by several organizations over the corridor designations, the BLM, Forest Service, and the U.S. Department of Energy entered into a Settlement Agreement, directing the formation of the Section 368 Interagency Workgroup to periodically review the energy corridors on a regional basis. In conducting the reviews, the Workgroup identifies new, relevant, existing, publicly available information to make recommendations for revisions, deletions, and additions to the Section 368 energy corridors. This report synthesizes information in available contemporary transmission, pipeline, and energy future studies to inform the regional reviews by providing a snapshot of what the western energy and transmission system will look like generally 10-15 years in the future. After an overview of the western grid implications, the analysis narrows to Region 2 and Region 3 of the BLM Section 368 energy corridors and focuses on the implications of potential developments in the oil, natural gas, and electricity markets in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and portions of Arizona and Nevada that could inform the current regional review. This analysis will help inform the Workgroup on potential development within existing corridors and the need for new corridors that have not yet been designated.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2016

MEASUREMENTS OF THE ABSORPTION AND SCATTERING CROSS SECTIONS FOR THE INTERACTION OF SOLAR ACOUSTIC WAVES WITH SUNSPOTS

The solar acoustic waves are modified by the interaction with sunspots. The interaction can be treated as a scattering problem: an incident wave propagating toward a sunspot is scattered by the sunspot into different modes. The absorption cross section and scattering cross section are two important parameters in the scattering problem. In this study, we use the wavefunction of the scattered wave, measured with a deconvolution method, to compute the absorption cross section σ {sub ab} and the scattering cross section σ {sub sc} for the radial order n = 0–5 for two sunspots, NOAA 11084 and NOAA 11092. In the computation of the cross sections, the random noise and dissipation in the measured acoustic power are corrected. For both σ {sub ab} and σ {sub sc}, the value of NOAA 11092 is greater than that of NOAA 11084, but their overall n dependence is similar: decreasing with n . The ratio of σ {sub ab} of NOAA 11092 to that of NOAA 11084 approximately equals the ratio of sunspot radii for all n , while the ratio of σ {sub sc} of the two sunspots is greater than the ratio of sunspot radii and increases with n . This suggests that σ {sub ab} is approximately proportional to the sunspot radius, while the dependence of σ {sub sc} on radius is faster than the linear increase.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2016

Interaction cross sections and survival rates for proposed solar system member planet nine

Motivated by the report of a possible new planetary member of the solar system, this work calculates cross sections for interactions between passing stars and this proposed Planet Nine. Evidence for the new planet is provided by the orbital alignment of Kuiper belt objects, and other solar system properties, which suggest a Neptune-mass object on an eccentric orbit with a semimajor axis a{sub 9} ≈ 400–1500 au. With such a wide orbit, Planet Nine has a large interaction cross section and is susceptible to disruption by passing stars. Using a large ensemble of numerical simulations (several million) and Monte Carlo sampling, we calculate the cross sections for different classes of orbit-altering events: (A) scattering the planet into its proposed orbit from a smaller orbit, (B) ejecting it from the solar system from its current orbit, (C) capturing the planet from another system, and (D) capturing a free-floating planet. Results are presented for a range of orbital elements with planetary mass m{sub 9} = 10 M {sub ⊕}. Removing Planet Nine from the solar system is the most likely outcome. Specifically, we obtain ejection cross sections σ{sub int} ∼ 5 × 10{sup 6} au{sup 2} (5 × 10{sup 4} au{sup 2}) for environments corresponding to the birth cluster (field). With these cross sections, Planet Nine is likely to be ejected if the Sun resides within its birth cluster longer than Δt ≳ 100 Myr. The probability of ejecting Planet Nine due to passing field stars is ≲3% over the age of the Sun. Probabilities for producing the inferred Planet Nine orbit are low (≲5%).

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS2018

New O+CO2 Scattering Cross Sections and Their Impact on Photochemical Atmospheric Escape of Oxygen from Mars

Dissociative recombination of O2+ and CO2+ molecular ions in the upper atmosphere of Mars is a major source of suprathermal (hot) oxygen atoms. A significant fraction of hot O atoms are sufficiently fast to overcome Mars' gravitational potential and escape to space. This mechanism is known as photochemical escape (PE) and found to be one of the major escape mechanisms presently active on Mars. The Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution Mission (MAVEN) can constrain the PE rate from measurements of electron temperature and density and ion temperature and density. Escape probabilities of hot O can then be constructed from in-situ neutral densities and escaping O flux loss due to collisions with atmospheric background gases. Due to CO2 abundance in the upper atmosphere, O+CO2 scattering is the most important sink of the escaping hot O flux that strongly affects estimates of total atomic oxygen escape rate obtained from MAVEN data, as outlined above. New O+CO2 elastic and inelastic cross sections were constructed from first principles for collision energies from 0.01-5 eV. O(3P)+CO2 collisions were described using new 4D electronic potential energy surfaces (PESs) for restricted geometries. Three lowest triplet states of CO2 were considered for symmetric, bending, and asymmetric vibrational modes. The cross sections were determined from close-coupling calculations performed on individual surfaces using vibrating rotor approximations for CO2 molecule. Differential and momentum transfer cross sections, of use in energy transfer atmospheric models, were also constructed. The obtained cross sections are in excellent agreement with published results. Our new elastic cross sections are significantly smaller than assumed in earlier atmospheric escape models, resulting in larger photochemical escape rate of O from Mars, as estimated from a 1D escape model. Our results agree well with estimated hot O flux (about 9 x 10(sup 25) s(sup -1)) derived from altitude profiles of 130.4 nm O emission measured up to ~4,000 km by the Imaging Ultraviolet Spectrograph on MAVEN orbiter.

Atmospheric↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Upwind Buildings Effects on Test Section Performance of the NFAC 80- by 120-Foot Wind Tunnel

In 2013, a new development began that would put multi-story buildings within the exclusion zone of the 80- by 120- Foot Wind Tunnel (80x120) inlet that exceeded the then existing building height restriction. This raised questions concerning whether the tunnel could operate within the acceptable turbulence limits of ≤ 0.5% in the axial direction over 75% area in the wind tunnel test section. The goal of this testing was to determine the validity of this hypothesis. Testing was performed using the 1/50th-scale model of the 80- by 120-FootWind Tunnel within the full-scale facility test section to characterize the model’s test section turbulence levels as a function of wind direction with the presence of the upwind buildings that are currently being constructed. This paper reports the first testing performed to date on the 80x120 inlet as-built under controlled test conditions for wind magnitude and wind onset direction for a variety of buildings in the inlet external flow field, including no buildings (the control case). This testing determined that, at rated operational conditions the upwind blockages caused no increase in turbulence intensity levels measured in the test section and, in some limited cases, caused the turbulence levels to decrease. Lastly, looking at generic rectangular blockages showed that, to have a discernible effect on test section turbulence levels, scaled 100-ft tall blockages need to be within 600 ft of the existing inlet.

Upwind Buildings Effects↗
DOE OSTI2015

Gamma-Ray Emission Spectra as a Constraint on Calculations of 234,236,238 U Neutron-Capture Cross Sections

Neutron capture cross sections in the “continuum” region (>≈1 keV) and gamma-emission spectra are of importance to basic science and many applied fields. Careful measurements have been made on most common stable nuclides, but physicists must rely on calculations (or “surrogate” reactions) for rare or unstable nuclides. Calculations must be benchmarked against measurements (cross sections, gamma-ray spectra, and <Γ γ >). Gamma-ray spectrum measurements from resolved resonances were made with 1 - 2 mg/cm 2 thick targets; cross sections at >1 keV were measured using thicker targets. The results show that the shape of capture cross section vs neutron energy is not sensitive to the form of the strength function (although the magnitude is); the generalized Lorentzian E1 strength function is not sufficient to describe the shape of observed gamma-ray spectra; MGLO + “Oslo M1” parameters produces quantitative agreement with the measured 238 U(n,γ) cross section; additional strength at low energies (~ 3 MeV) -- likely M1-- is required; and careful study of complementary results on low-lying giant resonance strength is needed to consistently describe observations.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2013

Generation of discrete scattering cross sections and demonstration of Monte Carlo charged particle transport in the Milagro IMC code package

A new method for generating discrete scattering cross sections to be used in charged particle transport calculations is investigated. The method of data generation is presented and compared to current methods for obtaining discrete cross sections. The new, more generalized approach allows greater flexibility in choosing a cross section model from which to derive discrete values. Cross section data generated with the new method is verified through a comparison with discrete data obtained with an existing method. Additionally, a charged particle transport capability is demonstrated in the time-dependent Implicit Monte Carlo radiative transfer code package, Milagro. The implementation of this capability is verified using test problems with analytic solutions as well as a comparison of electron dose-depth profiles calculated with Milagro and an already-established electron transport code. An initial investigation of a preliminary integration of the discrete cross section generation method with the new charged particle transport capability in Milagro is also presented. (authors)

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2018

Customized multi-group cross section generation with NJOY for discrete ordinates X-ray computed tomography and radiography simulation - 25589

The purpose of this work was to explore the creation of photo-atomic multi-group cross section libraries to be used with a software package DOCTORS (Discrete Ordinates Computed Tomography and Radiography Simulator). This software solves the linear Boltzmann equation using the discrete ordinates method. To create these libraries, NJOY2016 was used, creating both fine and broad energy multi-group cross section files. The cross section's accuracy was tested against an equivalent Monte Carlo simulation using MCNP6. Two simulation geometries were used. The first, a cylindrical water phantom with a single source projection placed in front, simulating an X-ray radiography. The second used the same water phantom with 16 cone beam sources placed evenly around the phantom to simulate a computed tomography (CT) scan. The accuracy of the fine energy multi-group cross sections when used in DOCTORS has been verified. The accuracy of the broad energy multigroup cross sections when used in DOCTORS shows that more work must be done before they can be used reliably. (authors)

61 RADIATION PROTECTION AND DOSIMETRY↗
DOE OSTI2015

Development and testing of neutron cross-section covariance data for Scale 6.2 - 14604

Neutron cross-section covariance data are essential for many sensitivity/uncertainty and uncertainty quantification assessments performed both within the TSUNAMI suite and more broadly throughout the SCALE code system. The release of ENDF/B-VII.1 included a more complete set of neutron cross-section covariance data: these data form the basis for a new cross-section covariance library to be released in SCALE 6.2. A range of testing is conducted to investigate the properties of these covariance data and ensure that the data are reasonable. These tests include examination of the uncertainty in critical experiment benchmark model k{sub eff} values due to nuclear data uncertainties, as well as similarity assessments of irradiated pressurized water reactor (PWR) and boiling water reactor (BWR) fuel with suites of critical experiments. The contents of the new covariance library, the testing performed, and the behavior of the new covariance data are described in this paper. The neutron cross-section covariances can be combined with a sensitivity data file generated using the TSUNAMI suite of codes within SCALE to determine the uncertainty in system k{sub eff} caused by nuclear data uncertainties. The Verified, Archived Library of Inputs and Data (VALID) maintained at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) contains over 400 critical experiment benchmark models, and sensitivity data are generated for each of these models. The nuclear data uncertainty in k{sub eff} is generated for each experiment, and the resulting uncertainties are tabulated and compared to the differences in measured and calculated results. The magnitude of the uncertainty for categories of nuclides (such as actinides, fission products, and structural materials) is calculated for irradiated PWR and BWR fuel to quantify the effect of covariance library changes between the SCALE 6.1 and 6.2 libraries. One of the primary applications of sensitivity/uncertainty methods within SCALE is the assessment of similarities between benchmark experiments and safety applications. This is described by a ck value for each experiment with each application. Several studies have analyzed typical ck values for a range of critical experiments compared with hypothetical irradiated fuel applications. The ck value is sensitive to the cross-section covariance data because the contribution of each nuclide is influenced by its uncertainty; large uncertainties indicate more likely bias sources and are thus given more weight. Changes in ck values resulting from different covariance data can be used to examine and assess underlying data changes. These comparisons are performed for PWR and BWR fuel in storage and transportation systems. (authors)

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2013

Modal Bin Hybrid Model: A Surface Area Consistent, Triple Moment Sectional Method for Use in Process-oriented Modeling of Atmospheric Aerosols

A triple moment sectional method, Modal Bin Hybrid Model (MBHM), has been developed. In addition to number and mass (volume), surface area is predicted (and preserved), which is important for gas-to-particle mass transfer and light extinction cross section. The performance of MBHM was evaluated against double moment sectional (DMS) methods with various size resolutions up to BIN256 (BINx: x is number of sections over three orders of magnitude in size, ΔlogD = 3/x) for simulating evolution of particles under simultaneously occurring nucleation, condensation and coagulation processes. Because MBHM gives a physically consistent form of the intra-sectional distributions, errors and biases of MBHM at BIN4-8 resolution were almost equivalent to those of DMS at BIN16-32 resolution for various important variables such as the moments Mk (k: 0, 2, 3), dMk/dt, and the number and volume of particles larger than a certain diameter. Another important feature of MBHM is that only a single bin is adequate to simulate full aerosol dynamics for particles whose size distribution can be approximated by a single lognormal mode. This flexibility is useful for process-oriented (multi category and/or mixing state) modeling: primary aerosols whose size parameters would not differ substantially in time and space can be expressed by a single or a small number of modes, whereas secondary aerosols whose size changes drastically from one to several hundred nanometers can be expressed by a number of modes. Added dimensions can be applied to MBHM to represent mixing state or photo-chemical age for aerosol mixing state studies.

Kajino, Mizuo↗