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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 55 records · Page 3

Stationary bubbles and their tunneling channels toward trivial geometry

In the path integral approach, one has to sum over all histories that start from the same initial condition in order to obtain the final condition as a superposition of histories. Applying this into black hole dynamics, we consider stable and unstable stationary bubbles as a reasonable and regular initial condition. We find examples where the bubble can either form a black hole or tunnel toward a trivial geometry, i.e., with no singularity nor event horizon. We investigate the dynamics and tunneling channels of true vacuum bubbles for various tensions. In particular, in line with the idea of superposition of geometries, we build a classically stable stationary thin-shell solution in a Minkowski background where its fate is probabilistically given by non-perturbative effects. Since there exists a tunneling channel toward a trivial geometry in the entire path integral, the entire information is encoded in the wave function. This demonstrates that the unitarity is preserved and there is no loss of information when viewed from the entire wave function of the universe, whereas a semi-classical observer, who can see only a definitive geometry, would find an effective loss of information. Ultimately, this may provide a resolution to the information loss dilemma.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

A new non-diffusional gas bubble production route in used nuclear fuel: Implications for fission gas release, cladding corrosion, and next generation fuel design

The relationship between noble metal phase particles and fission gas bubble production in used nuclear fuel is described. The majority of Te atoms within noble metal phase undergo radioactive decay to form stable Xe within a few hours after particle formation. This results in the production of clusters of Xe atoms contained within the solid metal matrix exhibiting an equivalent gas bubble pressure approaching 1 GPa. These high pressure bubbles are stabilized by the UO2 within the bulk of the fuel. However, when these bubbles form near the fuel / cladding interface, in combination with local and temporal damage caused by fission recoil, they are capable of overcoming the fracture strength of the UO2 and rupturing catastrophically. The force of the resulting bubble rupture is sufficient to eject noble metal phase particles several microns into the cladding. This proposed mechanism explains the observance of noble metal phase in cladding and is consistent with a host of morphological features found near the fuel / cladding interface.

Schwantes, Jon M.↗

Bubble Departure Diameter and Bubble Release Frequency Measurement from TAMU Subcooled Flow Boiling Experiment

The bubble departure diameter and bubble release frequency were obtained through the analysis of TAMU subcooled flow boiling experimental data. The numerous images of bubbles at departure were analyzed for each experimental condition to achieve the reliable statistics of the measured bubble parameters. The results are provided in this report with simple discussion.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Uncertainty analysis of PIV measurements in bubbly flows considering sampling and bubble effects with ray optics modeling

In this report, a modeling-based approach is developed to investigate the external sources of uncertainty in particle image velocimetry (PIV) measurements for two-phase bubbly flows. Primarily relied on ray optics modeling, this study focuses on the uncertainty in PIV measurements due to bubble-induced light distortion. In addition, the uncertainty due to sampling is also considered through synthetic PIV images generated from Monte Carlo sampling. Based on a PIV-planar laser induced florescence (PLIF) measurement system, three case studies are performed and discussed, considering respectively the sampling effect, bubble effect, and the combination of these two effects. These case studies confirm the validity of the ray optics modeling in obtaining accurate particle images through a benchmark test. Furthermore, it is also found that the bubble effect could significantly influence the particle images. On the other hand, the result of the case study with synthetic PIV images indicates that the bubble effect on particle images can be minimized by removing “outliers” in the obtained velocity vector field through a multi-pass post-processing procedure. However, the uncertainty of the velocity measurements will still increase.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Effective mobility limit in small-bubble, low-damping bubble materials

Examination of the implications of the basic equations that govern the motion of bubbles with nonzero winding number (S) yields an unexpected result. Bubble velocity is limited to the speed implied by the effective wall mobility (gamma)r/2S, no matter how large the actual wall mobility. For large bubbles, this limit will not usually be significant. However, for small bubbles (r less than 1 micron) in low-damping materials, this limit will profoundly affect the bubble motion. A derivation of the effect and experimental confirmation of it are presented.

Slusky, S. E. G.↗

Large-scale atomistic simulations of helium-3 bubble growth in complex palladium alloys

Palladium is an attractive material for hydrogen and hydrogen-isotope storage applications due to its properties of large storage density and high diffusion of lattice hydrogen. When considering tritium storage, the material’s structural and mechanical integrity is threatened by both the embrittlement effect of hydrogen and the creation and evolution of additional crystal defects (e.g., dislocations, stacking faults) caused by the formation and growth of helium-3 bubbles. Using recently developed inter-atomic potentials for the palladium-silver-hydrogen system, we perform large-scale atomistic simulations to examine the defect-mediated mechanisms that govern helium bubble growth. Our simulations show the evolution of a distribution of material defects, and we compare the material behavior displayed with expectations from experiment and theory. We also present density functional theory calculations to characterize ideal tensile and shear strengths for these materials, which enable the understanding of how and why our developed potentials either meet or confound these expectations.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Influence of the Physical Properties of Liquids and Diameter of Bubble on the Formation of Liquid Column at the Interface of Two Liquid Phases by the Rising Bubble

The formation of metal emulsion in a steel-making process enhances the reaction between metal and slag. A part of the metal emulsion is formed by a bubble passing through the interface between the metal and slag phases. In a previous study, it was determined that the formation of metal column by the bubble is related to the formation of metal droplets. In this research, the effects of bubble particle size, interfacial tension, viscosity of upper layer, and lower layer density on the formation of lower liquid column were investigated. In order to conduct an in situ observation of gas and liquid behaviors, aqueous solution and silicon oil systems were employed. It was determined that a narrow and elongated column forms liquid droplets in the upper liquid layer and contributes to the formation of droplets. The height of the column and the volume of droplets increase with the increase in bubble size. The influence of interfacial tension of the two liquid phases on the column height and the formation of droplet is slight. The height of the formed column decreases with the increase in the density of lower liquid.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Bubble chambers for experiments in nuclear astrophysics

A bubble chamber has been developed to be used as an active target system for low energy nuclear astrophysics experiments. Adopting ideas from dark matter detection with superheated liquids, a detector system compatible with gamma-ray beams has been developed. This detector alleviates some of the limitations encountered in standard measurements of the minute cross sections of interest to stellar environments. While the astrophysically relevant nuclear reaction processes at hydrostatic burning temperatures are dominated by radiative captures, in this experimental scheme we measure the time reversed processes. Such photodisintegrations allow us to compute the radiative capture cross sections when transitions to excited states of the reaction products are negligible. Due to the transformation of phase space, the photodisintegration cross-sections are up to two orders of magnitude higher. The main advantage of the new target-detector system is a density several orders of magnitude higher than conventional gas targets. Also, the detector is virtually insensitive to the gamma-ray beam itself, thus allowing us to detect only the products of the nuclear reaction of interest. The development and the operation as well as the advantages and disadvantages of the bubble chamber are discussed.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Cosmic bubble and domain wall instabilities III: the role of oscillons in three-dimensional bubble collisions

We study collisions between pairs of bubbles nucleated in an ambient false vacuum. For the first time, we include the effects of small initial (quantum) fluctuations around the instanton profiles describing the most likely initial bubble profile. Past studies of this problem neglect these fluctuations and work under the assumption that the collisions posess an exact SO(2,1) symmetry. We use three-dimensional lattice simulations to demonstrate that for double-well potentials, small initial perturbations to this symmetry can be amplified as the system evolves. Initially the amplification is well-described by linear perturbation theory around the SO(2,1) background, but the onset of strong nonlinearities amongst the fluctuations quickly leads to a drastic breaking of the original SO(2,1) symmetry and the production of oscillons in the collision region. We explore several single-field models, and we find it is hard to both realize inflation inside of a bubble and produce oscillons in a collision. Finally, we extend our results to a simple two-field model. The additional freedom allowed by the second field allows us to construct viable inflationary models that allow oscillon production in collisions. The breaking of the SO(2,1) symmetry allows for a new class of observational signatures from bubble collisions that do not posess azimuthal symmetry, including the production of gravitational waves which cannot be supported by an SO(2,1) spacetime.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Crystal Structures of the E. coli Transcription Initiation Complexes with a Complete Bubble

During transcription initiation, RNA polymerase binds to promoter DNA to form an initiation complex containing a DNA bubble and enters into abortive cycles of RNA synthesis before escaping the promoter to transit into the elongation phase for processive RNA synthesis. Here we present the crystal structures of E. coli transcription initiation complexes containing a complete transcription bubble and de novo synthesized RNA oligonucleotides at about 6-Å resolution. The structures show how RNA polymerase recognizes DNA promoters that contain spacers of different lengths and reveal a bridging interaction between the 5'-triphosphate of the nascent RNA and the σ factor that may function to stabilize the short RNA-DNA hybrids during the early stage of transcription initiation. The conformation of the RNA oligonucleotides and the paths of the DNA strands in the complete initiation complexes provide insights into the mechanism that controls both the abortive and productive RNA synthesis.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Direct Measurement of the Bubble Nucleation Energy Threshold in a CF3I Bubble Chamber

Here, we measured the energy threshold and efficiency for bubble nucleation from iodine recoils in a CF 3 I bubble chamber in the energy range of interest for a dark matter search. These interactions cannot be probed by standard neutron calibration methods, so we develop a new technique by observing the elastic scattering of 12 GeV/c negative pions. The pions are tracked with a silicon pixel telescope and the reconstructed scattering angle provides a measure of the nuclear recoil kinetic energy. The bubble chamber was operated with a nominal threshold of (13.6±0.6) keV. Interpretation of the results depends on the response to fluorine and carbon recoils, but in general we find agreement with the predictions of the classical bubble-nucleation theory. Moreover, this measurement confirms the applicability of CF 3 I as a target for spin-independent dark matter interactions and represents a novel technique for calibration of superheated fluid detectors.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Dark Matter Search Results from the PICO - 60 C 3 F 8 Bubble Chamber

New results are reported from the operation of the PICO-60 dark matter detector, a bubble chamber filled with 52 kg of C 3 F 8 located in the SNOLAB underground laboratory. As in previous PICO bubble chambers, PICO-60 C 3 F 8 exhibits excellent electron recoil and alpha decay rejection, and the observed multiple-scattering neutron rate indicates a single-scatter neutron background of less than one event per month. A blind analysis of an efficiency-corrected 1167-kg day exposure at a 3.3-keV thermodynamic threshold reveals no single-scattering nuclear recoil candidates, consistent with the predicted background. In conclusion, these results set the most stringent direct-detection constraint to date on the weakly interacting massive particle (WIMP)-proton spin-dependent cross section at 3.4×10 -41 cm 2 for a 30-GeV c -2 WIMP, more than 1 order of magnitude improvement from previous PICO results.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

Search for Very High-energy Gamma Rays from the Northern Fermi Bubble Region with HAWC

We present a search for very high-energy gamma-ray emission from the Northern Fermi Bubble region using data collected with the High Altitude Water Cherenkov gamma-ray observatory. The size of the data set is 290 days. No significant excess is observed in the Northern Fermi Bubble region, so upper limits above 1 TeV are calculated. The upper limits are between 3×10{sup −7} GeV cm{sup −2} s{sup −1} sr{sup −1} and 4×10{sup −8} GeV cm{sup −2} s{sup −1} sr{sup −1}. The upper limits disfavor a proton injection spectrum that extends beyond 100 TeV without being suppressed. They also disfavor a hadronic injection spectrum derived from neutrino measurements.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Development of a high capacity bubble domain memory element and related epitaxial garnet materials for application in spacecraft data recorders. Item 2: The optimization of material-device parameters for application in bubble domain memory elements for spacecraft data recorders

Bubble domain materials and devices are discussed. One of the materials development goals was a materials system suitable for operation of 16 micrometer period bubble domain devices at 150 kHz over the temperature range -10 C to +60 C. Several material compositions and hard bubble suppression techniques were characterized and the most promising candidates were evaluated in device structures. The technique of pulsed laser stroboscopic microscopy was used to characterize bubble dynamic properties and device performance at 150 kHz. Techniques for large area LPE film growth were developed as a separate task. Device studies included detector optimization, passive replicator design and test and on-chip bridge evaluation. As a technology demonstration an 8 chip memory cell was designed, tested and delivered. The memory elements used in the cell were 10 kilobit serial registers.

Besser, P. J.↗

Behavior of Ullage Bubbles During Blowdown in Low-g Experiment (BUBBLE): Overview of a Cryogenic Tank Depressurization Test

Behavior of Ullage Bubbles during Blowdown in Low-g Experiment (BUBBLE) is a cryogenic tank depressurization drop tower experiment currently being designed at NASA Glenn Research Center. There is a need for liquid level rise data while venting a cryogenic propellant tank below the liquid saturation pressure in a reduced gravity environment. When a cryogenic tank is vented to a vapor pressure below the liquid saturation pressure, bubbles become entrained in the liquid causing the bulk liquid-vapor interface to rise. In reduced gravity, bubble rise velocity is diminished leading to a larger liquid level rise compared to a 1g environment. The purpose of the experiment is to gain further understanding of tank depressurization fluid physics and obtain high-fidelity data for model validation in 1g and reduced gravity environments. On-orbit cryogenic propellant tanks operating at high fill levels must efficiently manage venting operations to avoid the risk of liquid entrainment in the vent line, which could lead to asymmetric control thruster loads, freezing and clogging, and loss of liquid propellant. Validated models could be used to design settling and venting profiles to reduce risk and increase efficiency for cryogenic storage and transfer operations.

tank venting↗

Snowmass 2021 Scintillating Bubble Chambers: Liquid-noble Bubble Chambers for Dark Matter and CE$\nu$NS Detection

The Scintillating Bubble Chamber (SBC) Collaboration is developing liquid-noble bubble chambers for the quasi-background-free detection of low-mass (GeV-scale) dark matter and coherent scattering (CE$\nu$NS) of low-energy (MeV-scale) neutrinos. The first physics-scale demonstrator of this technique, a 10-kg liquid argon bubble chamber dubbed SBC-LAr10, is now being commissioned at Fermilab. This device will calibrate the background discrimination power and sensitivity of superheated argon to nuclear recoils at energies down to 100 eV. A second functionally-identical detector with a focus on radiopure construction is being built for SBC's first dark matter search at SNOLAB. The projected spin-independent sensitivity of this search is approximately $10^{-43}$ cm$^2$ at 1 GeV$/c^2$ dark matter particle mass. The scalability and background discrimination power of the liquid-noble bubble chamber make this technique a compelling candidate for future dark matter searches to the solar neutrino fog at 1 GeV$/c^2$ particle mass (requiring a $\sim$ton-year exposure with non-neutrino backgrounds sub-dominant to the solar CE$\nu$NS signal) and for high-statistics CE$\nu$NS studies at nuclear reactors.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗