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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 523 records · Page 29
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2016

Model polymer etching and surface modification by a time modulated RF plasma jet: role of atomic oxygen and water vapor

The surface interaction of a well-characterized time modulated radio frequency (RF) plasma jet with polystyrene, poly(methyl methacrylate) and poly(vinyl alcohol) as model polymers is investigated. The RF plasma jet shows fast polymer etching but mild chemical modification with a characteristic carbonate ester and NO formation on the etched surface. By varying the plasma treatment conditions including feed gas composition, environment gaseous composition, and treatment distance, we find that short lived species, especially atomic O for Ar/1% O 2 and 1% air plasma and OH for Ar/1% H 2 O plasma, play an essential role for polymer etching. For O 2 containing plasma, we find that atomic O initiates polymer etching and the etching depth mirrors the measured decay of O atoms in the gas phase as the nozzlesurface distance increases. Here, the etching reaction probability of an O atom ranging from 10 –4 to 10 –3 is consistent with low pressure plasma research. We also find that adding O 2 and H 2 O simultaneously into Ar feed gas quenches polymer etching compared to adding them separately which suggests the reduction of O and OH density in Ar/O 2 /H 2 O plasma.

atomic O↗
DOE OSTI2015

ISOTROPIC INELASTIC COLLISIONS IN A MULTITERM ATOM WITH HYPERFINE STRUCTURE

A correct modeling of the scattering polarization profiles observed in some spectral lines of diagnostic interest, the sodium doublet being one of the most important examples, requires taking hyperfine structure (HFS) and quantum interference between different J-levels into account. An atomic model suitable for taking these physical ingredients into account is the so-called multiterm atom with HFS. In this work, we introduce and study the transfer and relaxation rates due to isotropic inelastic collisions with electrons, which enter the statistical equilibrium equations (SEE) for the atomic density matrix of this atomic model. Under the hypothesis that the electron–atom interaction is described by a dipolar operator, we provide useful relations between the rates describing the transfer and relaxation of quantum interference between different levels (whose numerical values are in most cases unknown) and the usual rates for the atomic level populations, for which experimental data and/or approximate theoretical expressions are generally available. For the particular case of a two-term atom with HFS, we present an analytical solution of the SEE for the spherical statistical tensors of the upper term, including both radiative and collisional processes, and we derive the expression of the emission coefficient in the four Stokes parameters. Finally, an illustrative application to the Na i D{sub 1} and D{sub 2} lines is presented.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2021

Bayesian automated weighting of aggregated DFT, MD, and experimental data for candidate thermodynamic models of aluminum with uncertainty quantification

Atomic-scale modeling methods such as density functional theory (DFT) and molecular dynamics (MD) can predict the thermodynamic properties of materials at a lower cost than experimental measurements. However, their regular usage in thermodynamic model construction is hampered by the lack of quantitative agreement with experimental measurements and the lack of uncertainty estimates on the data. To make regular usage of this atomistic simulation data, it is important to assess whether the atomistic simulation datasets, by themselves or in combination with experimental measurements, result in the same physics-informed models best supported by experimental measurements alone. Here, models of aluminum thermodynamic properties are discussed using three data sources: atomistic calculations (DFT and MD), experiments, and a combination of atomistic calculations and experiments. The study shows that, after ensuring self-consistency in predicting key invariant points, both experimental measurements and atomistic calculations can significantly contribute to an optimal model.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2024

Observationally constrained analysis of sulfur cycle in the marine atmosphere with NASA ATom measurements and AeroCom model simulations

The atmospheric sulfur cycle plays a key role in air quality, climate, and ecosystems, such as pollution, radiative forcing, new particle formation, and acid rain. In this study, we compare the spatially and temporally resolved measurements from the NASA Atmospheric Tomography (ATom) mission with simulations from five AeroCom III models for four sulfur species (dimethyl sulfide (DMS), sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ), particulate methanesulfonate (MSA), and particulate sulfate (SO 4 )). We focus on remote regions over the Pacific, Atlantic, and Southern oceans from near the surface to ~12 km altitude range covering all four seasons. In general, the differences among model results can be greater than 1 order of magnitude. Comparing with observations, model-simulated SO 2 is generally low, whereas SO 4 is generally high. Simulated DMS concentrations near the sea surface exceed observed levels by a factor of 5 in most cases, suggesting potential overestimation of DMS emissions in all models. With GEOS model simulations of tagging emission from anthropogenic, biomass burning, volcanic, and oceanic sources, we find that anthropogenic emissions are the dominant source of sulfate aerosol (40 %–60 % of the total amount) in the ATom measurements at almost all altitudes, followed by volcanic emissions (18 %–32 %) and oceanic sources (16 %–32 %). Similar source contributions can also be derived at broad ocean basins and on monthly scales, indicating the representativeness of ATom measurements for global ocean. Our work presents the first assessment of AeroCom sulfur study using ATom measurements, providing directions for improving sulfate simulations, which remain the largest uncertainty in radiative forcing estimates in aerosol climate models.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2021

Observation of ionization trends in a laboratory photoionized plasma experiment at Z

We report experimental and modeling results for the charge state distribution of laboratory photoionized neon plasmas in the first systematic study over nearly an order of magnitude range of ionization parameter ξ ∝ F/N e . The range of ξ is achieved by flexibility in the experimental platform to adjust either the x-ray drive flux F at the sample or the electron number density N e or both. Experimental measurements of photoionized plasma conditions over such a range of parameters enable a stringent test of atomic kinetics models used within codes that are applied to photoionized plasmas in the laboratory and astrophysics. From experimental transmission data, ion areal densities are extracted by spectroscopic analysis that is independent of atomic kinetics modeling. The measurements reveal the net result of the competition between photon-driven ionization and electron-driven recombination atomic processes as a function of ξ as it affects the charge state distribution. Results from radiation-hydrodynamics modeling calculations with detailed inline atomic kinetics modeling are compared with the experimental results. There is good agreement in the mean charge and overall qualitative similarities in the trends observed with ξ but significant quantitative differences in the fractional populations of individual ions.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2017

Multicell model of La{sub 3}Ga{sub 5}GeO{sub 14} crystal: A new approach to the description of the short-range order of atoms

The multicell model alternative to the model of mixed atomic sites used now is proposed for a single crystal of La{sub 3}Ga{sub 5}GeO{sub 14} belonging to the langasite family. The multicell consists of four unit cells. In three identical cells of the structure, atoms adapt to the Ge atom occupying one of the two 2d positions on the threefold symmetry axis. In the fourth cell, atoms surround the Ge atom located at the 1a position. The multicell model allows one to study the short-range order of atoms by the methods of classical structure analysis based on Bragg scattering. Four high-resolution data sets measured at 295 and 111.5 K are used in the study. The results are obtained with high relative precision (space group P321, Z = 1; at 295 K a = 8.2020(6) Å and c = 5.1065(6) Å, R/wR = 0.81/0.73% for 3829 unique ref lections; at 111.5 K a = 8.1939(1) Å and c = 5.1022(4) Å, R/wR = 0.85/0.76% for 3880 reflections).

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2023

Atomistic Simulations of Polydisperse Lignin Melts Using Simple Polydisperse Residue Input Generator

Understanding the physics of lignin will help rationalize its function in plant cell walls as well as aiding practical applications such as deriving biofuels and bioproducts. Here, in this work, we present SPRIG (Simple Polydisperse Residue Input Generator), a program for generating atomic-detail models of random polydisperse lignin copolymer melts i.e., the state most commonly found in nature. Using these models, we use all-atom molecular dynamics (MD) simulations to investigate the conformational and dynamic properties of polydisperse melts representative of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) lignin. Polydispersity, branching and monolignol sequence are found to not affect the calculated glass transition temperature, T g . The Flory–Huggins scaling parameter for the segmental radius of gyration is 0.42 ± 0.02, indicating that the chains exhibit statistics that lie between a globular chain and an ideal Gaussian chain. Below T g the atomic mean squared displacements are independent of molecular weight. In contrast, above T g , they decrease with increasing molecular weight. Therefore, a monodisperse lignin melt is a good approximation to this polydisperse lignin when only static properties are probed, whereas the molecular weight distribution needs to be considered while analyzing lignin dynamics.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2025

A Machine Learning Framework for Modeling Ensemble Properties of Atomically Disordered Materials

Atomic disorder can strongly influence material properties such as charge transport, optical response, and catalytic activity. However, efficiently modeling these disorder effects remains challenging for first-principles methods due to the cost of sampling large configurational spaces and computing complex physical quantities. Recent advances of machine learning techniques, particularly graph neural networks (GNNs), has enabled the efficient and accurate predictions of complex material properties, offering promising tools for studying disordered systems. In this work, we present a general machine-learning-assisted computational framework that integrates equivariant GNNs with Monte Carlo simulations to compute the thermodynamic and ensemble-averaged functional properties of disordered materials. Using the surface-termination-disordered MXene monolayer Ti 3 C 2 T 2–x as a representative system, we find that electrical conductivity exhibits an emergent peak near the order–disorder phase transition temperature due to the interplay between electron scattering and doping. In contrast, optical conductivity remains largely insensitive to local atomic disorder and reflects the global surface chemical composition. These results highlight the role of atomic disorder in affecting material properties and demonstrate the potential of our approach for statistically modeling disorder effects in a wide range of materials such as high-entropy alloys and spin liquids.

MXene↗
DOE OSTI2020

Identification of the Electronic and Structural Dynamics of Catalytic Centers in Single-Fe-Atom Material

The lack of model single-atom catalysts (SACs) and atomic-resolution operando spectroscopic techniques greatly limits our comprehension of the nature of catalysis. Herein, based on the designed model single-Fe-atom catalysts with well-controlled microenvironments, we have explored the exact structure of catalytic centers and provided insights into a spin-crossover-involved mechanism for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) using operando Raman, X-ray absorption spectroscopies, and the developed operando 57 Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy. In combination with theoretical studies, the N-FeN 4 C 10 moiety is evidenced as a more active site for ORR. Moreover, the potential-relevant dynamic cycles of both geometric structure and electronic configuration of reactive single-Fe-atom moieties are evidenced via capturing the peroxido (*O 2 -) and hydroxyl (*OH-) intermediates under in situ ORR conditions. Overall, we anticipate that the integration of operando techniques and SACs in this work shall shed some light on the electronic-level insight into the catalytic centers and underlying reaction mechanism.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2013

Collisional particle-in-cell modeling for energy transport accompanied by atomic processes in dense plasmas

Fully relativistic collisional Particle-in-Cell (PIC) code, PICLS, has been developed to study extreme energy density conditions produced in intense laser-solid interaction. Recent extensions to PICLS, such as the implementation of dynamic ionization, binary collisions in a partially ionized plasma, and radiative losses, enhance the efficacy of simulating intense laser plasma interaction and subsequent energy transport in resistive media. Different ionization models are introduced and benchmarked against each other to check the suitability of the model. The atomic physics models are critical to determine the energy deposition and transport in dense plasmas, especially when they consist of high Z (atomic number) materials. Finally we demonstrate the electron transport simulations to show the importance of target material on fast electron dynamics.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2014

Numerical modeling of carrier gas flow in atomic layer deposition vacuum reactor: A comparative study of lattice Boltzmann models

This paper characterizes the carrier gas flow in the atomic layer deposition (ALD) vacuum reactor by introducing Lattice Boltzmann Method (LBM) to the ALD simulation through a comparative study of two LBM models. Numerical models of gas flow are constructed and implemented in two-dimensional geometry based on lattice Bhatnagar–Gross–Krook (LBGK)-D2Q9 model and two-relaxation-time (TRT) model. Both incompressible and compressible scenarios are simulated and the two models are compared in the aspects of flow features, stability, and efficiency. Our simulation outcome reveals that, for our specific ALD vacuum reactor, TRT model generates better steady laminar flow features all over the domain with better stability and reliability than LBGK-D2Q9 model especially when considering the compressible effects of the gas flow. The LBM-TRT is verified indirectly by comparing the numerical result with conventional continuum-based computational fluid dynamics solvers, and it shows very good agreement with these conventional methods. The velocity field of carrier gas flow through ALD vacuum reactor was characterized by LBM-TRT model finally. The flow in ALD is in a laminar steady state with velocity concentrated at the corners and around the wafer. The effects of flow fields on precursor distributions, surface absorptions, and surface reactions are discussed in detail. Steady and evenly distributed velocity field contribute to higher precursor concentration near the wafer and relatively lower particle velocities help to achieve better surface adsorption and deposition. The ALD reactor geometry needs to be considered carefully if a steady and laminar flow field around the wafer and better surface deposition are desired.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
NASA NTRS2012

Atomic Decay Data for Modeling K Lines of Iron Peak and Light Odd-Z Elements*

Complete data sets of level energies, transition wavelengths, A-values, radiative and Auger widths and fluorescence yields for K-vacancy levels of the F, Na, P, Cl, K, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Cu and Zn isonuclear sequences have been computed by a Hartree-Fock method that includes relativistic corrections as implemented in Cowan's atomic structure computer suite. The atomic parameters for more than 3 million fine-structure K lines have been determined. Ions with electron number N greater than 9 are treated for the first time, and detailed comparisons with available measurements and theoretical data for ions with N less than or equal to 9 are carried out in order to estimate reliable accuracy ratings.

modeling K lines↗
DOE OSTI2017

Effect of nickel on point defects diffusion in Fe – Ni alloys

Iron-Nickel alloys are perspective alloys as nuclear energy structural materials because of their good radiation damage tolerance and mechanical properties. Understanding of experimentally observed features such as the effect of Ni content to radiation defects evolution is essential for developing predictive models of radiation. Recently an atomic-scale modelling study has revealed one particular mechanism of Ni effect related to the reduced mobility of clusters of interstitial atoms in Fe-Ni alloys. In this paper we present results of the microsecond-scale molecular dynamics study of point defects, i.e. vacancies and self-interstitial atoms, diffusion in Fe-Ni alloys. It is found that the addition of Ni atoms affects diffusion processes: diffusion of vacancies is enhanced in the presence of Ni, whereas diffusion of interstitials is reduced and these effects increase at high Ni concentration and low temperature. As a result, the role of Ni solutes in radiation damage evolution in Fe-Ni alloys is discussed.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2023

Exploring the Structural, Dynamic, and Functional Properties of Metal–Organic Frameworks through Molecular Modeling

This review spotlights the role of atomic-level modeling in research on metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), especially the key methodologies of density functional theory (DFT), Monte Carlo (MC) simulations, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The discussion focuses on how periodic and cluster-based DFT calculations can provide novel insights into MOF properties, with a focus on predicting structural transformations, understanding thermodynamic properties and catalysis, and providing information or properties that are fed into classical simulations such as force field parameters or partial charges. Classical simulation methods, highlighting force field selection, databases of MOFs for high-throughput screening, and the synergistic nature of MC and MD simulations, are described. By predicting equilibrium thermodynamic and dynamic properties, these methods offer a wide perspective on MOF behavior and mechanisms. Additionally, the incorporation of machine learning (ML) techniques into quantum and classical simulations is discussed. These methods can enhance accuracy, expedite simulation setup, reduce computational costs, as well as predict key parameters, optimize geometries, and estimate MOF stability. By charting the growth and promise of computational research in the MOF field, the aim is to provide insights and recommendations to facilitate the incorporation of computational modeling more broadly into MOF research.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
NASA NTRS2006

Numerical Modeling of Turbulence Effects within an Evaporating Droplet in Atomizing Sprays

A new approach to account for finite thermal conductivity and turbulence effects within atomizing liquid sprays is presented in this paper. The model is an extension of the T-blob and T-TAB atomization/spray model of Trinh and Chen (2005). This finite conductivity model is based on the two-temperature film theory, where the turbulence characteristics of the droplet are used to estimate the effective thermal diffhsivity within the droplet phase. Both one-way and two-way coupled calculations were performed to investigate the performance of this model. The current evaporation model is incorporated into the T-blob atomization model of Trinh and Chen (2005) and implemented in an existing CFD Eulerian-Lagrangian two-way coupling numerical scheme. Validation studies were carried out by comparing with available evaporating atomization spray experimental data in terms of jet penetration, temperature field, and droplet SMD distribution within the spray. Validation results indicate the superiority of the finite-conductivity model in low speed parallel flow evaporating spray.

Balasubramanyam, M. S.↗
DOE OSTI2025

VERITAS : A density-functional theory-based multiband kinetic model for understanding x-ray spectroscopy of dense plasmas

X-ray spectroscopy has long been a powerful diagnostic tool for hot, dilute plasmas, providing insights into plasma conditions by measuring line shifts and broadenings of atomic transitions. The technique critically depends on the accuracy of atomic physics models used to interpret spectroscopic measurements for inferring plasma properties such as free-electron density and temperature. Over the past decades, the atomic and plasma physics communities have developed robust atomic physics models to account for various processes in hot, dilute classical plasmas. While these models have been successful in that regime, their applicability becomes uncertain when interpreting x-ray spectroscopy experiments of above-solid-density plasmas. Given that finite-temperature density-functional theory (DFT) offers a more accurate description of dense plasma environments, we present the development of a DFT-based multi-band kinetic model, VERITAS, designed to improve the interpretation of x-ray spectroscopic measurements in high-density plasmas produced by laser-driven spherical implosions. This work details the VERITAS model and its application to both time-integrated and time-resolved x-ray spectra from implosion experiments on OMEGA. The advantages and limitations of the VERITAS model will also be discussed, along with potential directions for advancing x-ray spectroscopy of dense and superdense plasmas.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗