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At least 523 records · Page 29
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1975

Photomultiplier window materials under electron irradiation - Fluorescence and phosphorescence

The fluorescence and phosphorescence of photomultiplier window materials under electron irradiation have been investigated using a Sr-90/Y-90 beta emitter as the electron source. Spectral emission curves of UV-grade, optical-grade, and electron-irradiated samples of MgF2 and LiF, and of CaF2, BaF2, sapphire, fused silica, and UV-transmitting glasses were obtained over the 200-650-nm spectral range. Fluorescence yields were determined on these materials utilizing photomultiplier tubes with cesium telluride, bialkali, and trialkali (S-20) photocathodes, respectively. Optical-grade MgF2 and LiF, as well as electron-irradiated UV-grade samples of these two materials, show enhanced fluorescence due to color-center formation and associated emission bands in the blue and red wavelength regions. Large variations in fluorescence intensities were found in UV-grade sapphire samples of different origins, particularly in the red end of the spectrum, presumably due to various amounts of chromium-ion content. Phosphorescence decay with time is best described by a sum of exponential terms, with time constants ranging from a few minutes to several days.

Viehmann, W.↗
NASA NTRS1983

A 20 GHz, 75 watt, helix TWT for space communications

A space-qualified, helix-type traveling wave tube is being developed for satellite communication systems in the frequency band of 17.7 to 21.2 GHz. The design approach stresses very high efficiency operation, but with very low distortion. The tube provides multi-mode operation, permitting CW saturated power output levels of 75, 40, and 7.5 W. Operation is also anticipated at 5 dB below these saturation levels to achieve the required low distortion levels. Advanced construction features include a five-stage depressed collector, a diamond supported helix slow-wave circuit, and a type M dispenser cathode. High reliability and long life (10 yr) are objectives of the tube design. Preliminary test results on early developmental models of this tube are very encouraging. An output power of 75 to 90 W has been achieved over the full bandwidth with about 40 dB of saturated gain. More importantly, the basic electronic efficiency of the interaction process has been increased from about 7.5-11 percent by the use of the diamond helix support compared to earlier tubes using BeO support rods. This effort is supported by NASA Lewis Research Center and is aimed toward application in the NASA Advanced Communications Satellite Technology Program.

Heney, J. F.↗
NASA NTRS1977

A shock tube study of line broadening in a temperature range of 6100 to 8300 K

Line widths of the Ca(II) 3968 A and Na(I) 5890 A resonance lines broadened by electric microfields in a plasma were measured. A pressure-driven shock tube was used as the light source. Radiation from the equilibrium region behind the reflected shock wave was studied using a rapid scanning Fabry-Perot interferometer. Electron and argon atom densities of about 8 x 10 to the 16th and 1 x 10 to the 19th/cu cm, respectively, were achieved at the relatively low temperature of around 7500 K by vaporizing a cesium powder that had been added to the shock tube as a solid aerosol in argon gas. The measured line widths were predominantly Stark broadened by the electrons and ions in the plasma, although Doppler, van der Waals, instrument function and optical depth effects had to be taken into account.

Baur, J. F.↗
DOE OSTI2025

Efficient analysis of small-angle scattering curves for large biomolecular assemblies using Monte Carlo methods

Structure elucidation from small-angle scattering curves of large biomolecular assemblies is notoriously challenging. This is because the simulation of high-resolution features in the structure of large macromolecular assemblies, such as de novo protein assemblies, is computationally demanding when it needs to cover a broad range of length scales. Conventional methods, such as the numerical approximation to the Debye equation or the use of spherical harmonics, do not scale well as the size of the assembly increases, which limits their application to small structures (e.g. individual proteins). This work explores the effectiveness of a Monte Carlo method to simulate and fit scattering curves for large biomolecular assemblies spanning over ranges covering atomic and molecular detail (e.g. spacing and orientation of proteins in an assembly) as well as large-scale (hundreds of nanometres) features. Owing to its speed and scalability, it can be combined with a fitting algorithm to extract structural features from experimental small-angle scattering curves in biomolecular assemblies that are otherwise intractable for interpretation. This work first demonstrates the effectiveness of the tool using experimental small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) data from tile-like proteins that assemble into 1D tube-like macromolecular structures. Here, the diameter distribution of tubes is extracted from SAXS fits, and this is quantitatively compared with distributions from electron microscopy. SAXS data are also obtained from 2D sheet-like protein assemblies, and the proposed method is used to quantify structural features such as the separation distance between protein building blocks and the flexing of the sheet. An open-source implementation of the methodology is provided for use in a broad range of biological systems involving multi-scale scattering analysis.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
NASA NTRS1994

Impulsive behavior in solar soft X-radiation

The Yohkoh soft X-ray telescope has observed impulsive, thermal, soft X-ray emission at the footpoints of magnetic loops during solar flares. The soft X-ray (thermal) time profiles at the footpoints closely match the hard X-ray (nonthermal) time profiles, directly demonstrating the heating of the lower solar atmosphere on short timescales during the interval of nonthermal energy release. This phenomenon is the rule, rather than the exception, occurring in the majority of flares that we have examined with the Yohkoh data. We illustrate the impulsive behavior with data from the major flare of 1992 January 26. For this flare, the soft X-ray peak times matched the hard X-ray peak times within the time resolution of the soft X-ray measurements (about 10 s), and the soft and hard X-ray locations match within the resolution of the hard X-ray imager. The impulsive soft X-ray emission clearly has a thermal spectral signature, but not at the high temperature of a 'superhot' source. We conclude that the impulsive soft X-ray emission comes from material heated by precipitating electrons at loop footpoints and evaporating from the deeper atmosphere into the flaring flux tube.

Hudson, H. S.↗
NASA NTRS1995

Sensing strategies for toxic vapor detection

This work was motivated by the recommendations of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) that threshold limits for hydrazine, H2N-NH2 in air be lowered from 100 to 10 parts-per-billion (ppb) concentration levels. Hydrazine is one of the high-energy propellants used in large volumes in Space Shuttle, Titan, payloads, and other aerospace operations. Since analytical methods presently available for hydrazine detection and/or determination do not satisfy such low levels of detection, the ultimate goal of this research is the development and characterization of a portable and compact chemical sensor ideally capable to detect (in real time) 1 ppb of hydrazine, continuously and reversibly. The laboratory prototype developed as part of this project is comprised of: (1) a reactor part in which H2N-NH2 reacts, generating chemiluminescence emission, with tris(2,2'-bipyridine)ruthenium(III), which is immobilized on an ion-exchange polymeric materials of a perfluorinated hydrocarbon containing sulfonate groups as exchange centers (Nafion); (2) an electrochemical three-electrode cell posed at a potential at which the immobilized ruthenium complex could be reoxidized to the 3-oxidation state (as to provide reversible and continuous detection); and (3) a low power consumption photomultiplier tube to collect and quantitatively integrate the emitted photons with the help of auxiliary electronics and readout device.

Mottola, Horacio A.↗
NASA NTRS2004

Metallic Hydrogen and Nano-Tube Magnets

When hydrogen is subjected to enough pressure the atoms will be pressed into close enough proximity that each electron is no longer bound to a single proton. The research objectives is to find whether metallic hydrogen can be produced and once produced will the metallic hydrogen be metastable and remain in the metallic form when the pressure is released.

Cole, John W.↗
DOE OSTI2022

Investigating the stability of reoriented hydrides and their reprecipitation using in-situ heating experiments

The behavior of radial hydrides in Zr-2.5Nb pressure tube samples at elevated temperature has been studied. The aim of this work is to investigate the stability of stress-reoriented hydrides under heating without an external applied load. Using in-situ heating at beamline, 1-ID at Argonne National Laboratory, USA, it was shown that two populations of hydrides existed in the sample, naturally oriented and reoriented hydrides. At a relatively low temperature of 180 °C it was observed that the reoriented hydrides completely dissolved, leaving only the naturally oriented hydrides in the sample, when heated without an applied load. On subsequent cooling of the sample, only naturally oriented hydrides were observed. These observations were confirmed using in-situ scanning electron microscopy heating experiments and post-mortem transmission electron microscopy studies. The results presented here offer a potential route for ductility recovery of pressure tube materials where radial hydrides have been shown to significantly reduce fracture toughness of components.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2021

EIC Hadron Beamline Vacuum Studies

Ninety percent of the EIC hadron ring vacuum chamber consists of cold-bore sections running through and interconnecting 4.55 K RHIC superconducting (SC) magnets. The EIC operating specification requires shorter bunches and 3x higher intensity beams which are not appropriate for the present RHIC stainless steel cold-bore beam tube. The intensity and emittance of the hadron beams will degrade due to interactions with residual gas or vacuum instabilities arising from the expected resistive-wall (RW) heating, electron clouds, and beam-induced desorption mechanisms. Without strategies to limit RW heating, major cryogenic system modifications are needed to prevent SC magnet quenches. The SC magnet cold-bore beam tubes will be equipped with a high RRR copper-clad stainless steel screen to significantly reduce RW heating and so the effect on the SC magnet cryogenic heat load and temperature. A thin amorphous carbon film applied to the beam-facing copper surface will suppress electron cloud formation. This paper discusses the vacuum requirements imposed by the EIC hadron beams and the plans to achieve the necessary vacuum and thermal stability that ensure acceptable beam quality and lifetime.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗
NASA NTRS1993

A direct current rectification scheme for microwave space power conversion using traveling wave electron acceleration

The formation of the Vision-21 conference held three years ago allowed the present author to reflect and speculate on the problem of converting electromagnetic energy to a direct current by essentially reversing the process used in traveling wave tubes that converts energy in the form of a direct current to electromagnetic energy. The idea was to use the electric field of the electromagnetic wave to produce electrons through the field emission process and accelerate these electrons by the same field to produce an electric current across a large potential difference. The acceleration process was that of cyclotron auto-resonance. Since that time, this rather speculative ideas has been developed into a method that shows great promise and for which a patent is pending and a prototype design will be demonstrated in a potential laser power beaming application. From the point of view of the author, a forum such as Vision-21 is becoming an essential component in the rather conservative climate in which our initiatives for space exploration are presently formed. Exchanges such as Vision-21 not only allows us to deviate from the 'by-the-book' approach and rediscover the ability and power in imagination, but provides for the discussion of ideas hitherto considered 'crazy' so that they may be given the change to transcend from the level of eccentricity to applicability.

Manning, Robert M.↗
NASA NTRS1994

Standing shocks in a two-fluid solar wind

We present a numerical study of the formation of standing shocks in the solar wind using a two-fluid time-dependent model in the presence of Alfven waves. Included in this model is the adiabatic cooling and thermal conduction of both electrons and protons. In this study, standing shocks develop in the flow when additional critical points form as a result of either localized momentum addition or rapid expansion of the flow tube below the existing sonic point. While the flow speed and density exhibit the same characteristics as found in earlier studies of the formation of standing shocks, the inclusion of electron and proton heat conduction produces different signatures in the electron and proton temperature profiles across the shock layer. Owing to the strong heat conduction, the electron temperature is nearly continuous across the shock, but its gradient has a negative jump across it, thus producing a net heat flux out of the shock layer. The proton temperature exhibits the same characteristics for shocks produced by momentum addition but behaves differently when the shock is formed by the rapid divergence of the flow tube. The adiabatic cooling in a rapidly diverging flow tube reduces the proton temperature so substantially that the proton heat conduction becomes negligible in the vicinity of the shock. As a result, protons experience a positive jump in temperature across the shock. While Alfven waves do not affect the formation of standing shocks, they contribute to the change of the mmomentum and energy balance across them. We also find that for this solar wind model the inclusion of thermal conduction and adiabatic cooling for the elctrons and protons increases significantly the range of parameters characterizing the formation of standing shocks over those previously found for isothermal and polytropic models.

Habbal, Shadia R.↗
DOE OSTI2025

First Event-by-Event Identification of Cherenkov Radiation from Sub-Mev Particles in Liquid Argon

This Letter reports the event-by-event observation of Cherenkov light from sub-MeV electrons in a high scintillation light-yield liquid argon detector by the coherent CAPTAIN-Mills (CCM) experiment. The CCM200 detector, located at Los Alamos National Laboratory, instruments seven tons (fiducial volume) of liquid argon with 200 eight-inch photomultiplier tubes, 80% of which are coated in a wavelength-shifting material and the remaining 20% are uncoated. In the prompt time region of an event, defined as - 6 ≤ t < 0 ns relative to the event start time t = 0 , the uncoated photomultiplier tubes are primarily sensitive to visible Cherenkov photons. Using gamma rays from a Na 22 source for production of sub-MeV electrons, we isolated prompt Cherenkov light with > 5 σ confidence and developed a selection to obtain a low-background electromagnetic sample. This is the first event-by-event observation of Cherenkov photons from sub-MeV electrons in a high-yield scintillator detector and represents a milestone in low-energy particle detector development.

Aguilar-Arevalo, A. A. [UNAM, Mexico]↗
NASA NTRS2006

Sensor Amplifier for the Venus Ground Ambient

Previous Venus Landers employed high temperature pressure vessels, with thermally protected electronics, to achieve successful missions, with a maximum surface lifetime of 127 minutes. Extending the operating range of electronic systems to the temperatures (480 C) and pressures (90 bar) of the Venus ground ambient would significantly increase the science return of future missions. Toward that end, the current work describes the innovative design of a sensor preamplifier, capable of working in the Venus ground ambient and designed using commercial components (thermionic vacuum tubes, wide band gap transistors, thick film resistors, advanced high temperature capacitors, and monometallic interfaces) To identify commercial components and electronic packaging materials that are capable of operation within the specified environment, a series of active devices, passive components, and packaging materials were screened for operability at 500C, assuming a 10x increase in the mission lifetime. In addition. component degradation as a function of time at 500(deg)C was evaluated. Based on the results of these preliminary evaluations, two amplifiers were developed.

Venus electronics↗
DOE OSTI2020

An updated estimate of the Mu2e experiment sensitivity

The Mu2e experiment at Fermilab will search for the conversion of a negative muon into an electron inside the field of a nucleus. This process does not conserve charged-lepton flavour and is heavily suppressed in the Standard Model (SM), with a branching ratio < 10-50. Any evidence of it would be an undeniable evidence of new physics beyond the SM. The project sets out to achieve a single event sensitivity of $\sim 3 × 10^{-17}$ on the ratio between the probability for a conversion of a negative muon into an electron and the one for a muon capture by the nucleus. Such a sensitivity would represent a 4 orders of magnitude improvement on the previous upper limit for the process, making possible to test predictions of different extensions of the SM. Mu2e uses three superconducting solenoids to produce and measure the muon conversions. In the first solenoid, the Production Solenoid, pions and kaons are produced, together with other secondary products, by 8 GeV kinetic energy proton interactions in a tungsten target. A gradient magnetic field is specifically designed to direct low momentum particles into the Transport Solenoid, an S-shaped magnet that filters out particles with unwanted charge and momentum. Muons, produced by pion and kaon decays, finally reach the aluminum Stopping Target in the Detector Solenoid, where they eventually stop and convert. The result of the conversion process is a monochromatic electron of ~105 MeV/c momentum. The Detector Solenoid also hosts the two main detectors: a straw tube tracker and two CsI calorimeter disks, both providing measurement of event kinematics. A germanium detector and a LaBr crystal are located downstream of the Detector Solenoid to measure the X and gamma rays produced by the muon captures in the Stopping Target. A veto system of scintillators covering the Detector Solenoid and half of the Transport Solenoid is used to identify and reject cosmic rays interactions. With respect to the initial project, the Mu2e running plan has evolved to a staged configuration with 2 years at reduced intensity before the 2025 accelerator shutdown for the neutrino beam upgrade and 2 or 3 years at full intensity after that. This, together with geometry changes and a better knowledge of detector performances obtained by the first slice tests, has required a full revision of the signal over background selection that is the subject of this thesis. In order to achieve a new estimate of Mu2e sensitivity, the simulation of the data corresponding to the first 2 years of data acquisition has been performed. This includes both conversion electrons (CE) and the main sources of background: cosmics, decay-in orbits (DIO), radiative pion captures (RPC) and antiprotons. The characteristics of the signal and of the main backgrounds have been studied to define the best selection variables for CE. A special effort has been devoted to the evaluation of the antiproton background. The lack of experimental data for antiproton production cross section makes the systematic uncertainty on this background significant. A new parameterization of the cross section has been developed to fit the existing data and to provide a more reliable estimate of the systematic uncertainty by comparing the results of the old and the new model. A special effort has been devoted to the optimization of the antiprotons Monte Carlo generator. This study has also revealed that the dominant component within this background is represented by antiprotons produced in the opposite direction with respect to the Transport Solenoid entrance and then redirected to it by back-scattering processes in the Production Target. This ultimately highlights the sensitivity of the background estimate to the G4 handling of antiproton interactions in the 1 to 3 GeV/c momentum range. Finally, the final experimental sensitivity has been studied. The momentum and time selection have been optimized to obtain the 5-sigma discovery reach or, in case of no signal, the upper limit on conversion probability. The results confirm that, in the firs t two years of data taking, Mu2e will be able to improve the current experimental sensitivity for muon-to-electron conversion in an atomic field by more than 3 order of magnitudes.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
NASA NTRS1978

Discrepancy in proton flux extrapolation along field lines in the middle Jovian magnetosphere

Fluxes of energetic electrons and protons in Jupiter's outer magnetosphere were observed to be modulated with the 10 hour rotation period of the planet. This modulation was due to the concentration of particles at the magnetic equator: the non-alignment of Jupiter's spin and rotation axes caused Pioneer-10 to oscillate between +20 deg and -19 deg magnetic latitude and hence, between regions of stronger and weaker fluxes. The relationship between electron and proton fluxes observed off the magnetic equator was countered with measurements at the equatorial crossing radii of the same flux tubes by applying Liouville's theorem with the assumption that particles move conserving their magnetic moments. A magnetic model which matches the intensity and direction of the magnetic field along the Pioneer 10 trajectory was used for determining the positions of the equatorial crossings. Energetic electrons compared in this way appear to be consistently described. Protons, on the other hand, show much weaker fluxes at the off-equatorial points than would be predicted by this simple application of Liouville's theorem.

Schardt, A. W.↗
DOE OSTI2021

High efficiency compact microwave sources using electrostatic potential depression

In this article, we report theoretical and design studies on the application of an electrostatic potential depression (EPD) on two types of traditional microwave sources, the klystron and the inductive output tube (IOT), both operating in the UHF band. Additionally, the EPD is implemented by a section of the metallic beam pipe on which a direct current (dc) negative high voltage is applied. Inside the EPD section, the modulated electron beam develops into bunches over a very short longitudinal distance, indicating a possible design approach for a compact device. With the application of an EPD, the peak value of the first harmonic current in a microwave tube can be further increased compared to that in a conventional design, suggesting higher circuit efficiency. As the electron beam leaves the EPD section, the reacceleration of the beam provides a longitudinal cooling effect. With the addition of an EPD, circuit power extraction efficiency above 80% is achieved in both the modified design of the IOT and the novel conceptual circuit design of the klystron.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2025

Site-specific nanoscale characterization of zirconium hydrides in the hydride rim structure of hydrogen-charged zircaloy-4 cladding

Zircaloy-4 cladding tubes were hydrogen-charged using a static pressure hydrogen charging method to experimentally produce a zirconium-hydride rim structure similar to that observed in Zircaloy-4 cladding tubes after operation in commercial light-water nuclear reactors. Detailed characterization was performed using electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) and four-dimensional scanning transmission electron microscopy (4D-STEM). By mapping the position of the plasmon peak in the low-loss EELS spectrum, it was determined that the zirconium hydrides formed were predominantly solid δ-phase zirconium hydrides. 4D-STEM was used to generate phase and strain maps at nanoscale. The interactions between two zirconium hydride platelets less than 200 nm apart leads to the localized lattice rotations and possible phase change, revealing a potential hydride growth mechanism.

4D-STEM↗
DOE OSTI2025

Static characterization of a highly optimized streak tube design incorporating a steering slot anode and an aberration-corrected Einzel lens

The BHx streak tube, under development at the Laboratory for Laser Energetics, incorporates a series of novel electron-optics elements to enable high fidelity measurements for high-energy-density physics experiments. The system is engineered to support a 25-mm active photocathode region compatible with sub-picosecond temporal resolution and with 70% internal photoelectron throughput. It exhibits negligible geometric distortion on a flat output screen, making it well suited for variety of measurements, such as ultrafast x-ray spectroscopy. Here, this paper presents characterization data from a prototype unit tested with an ultraviolet laser in a static deflection (non-swept) mode and shows good agreement with the predictions from numerical modeling, including focusing performance and geometric distortion measurements. Key design elements have been demonstrated and de-risked, laying the foundation for dynamic deflection testing. The anticipated improvements in data fidelity are expected to impact the fields as diverse as inertial confinement fusion, laboratory astrophysics, and materials science.

High energy density physics↗