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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
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

Laser system design and critical technologies for the NSF OPAL project

The three-year NSF OPAL project is completing the preliminary design of a 2 x 25-PW all-optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification (OPCPA) system capable of delivering 500-J, 20-fs pulses. The design includes two Alpha beamlines that can be co-timed and pointed into two experimental areas for high-intensity research in several configurations. Additionally, a more flexible 2-PW Beta beam can be used in place of one Alpha beam to allow a wider range of focusing geometries and synchronized electron-beam generation for diverse experimental applications. Here, building on the development of the mid-scale MTW-OPAL prototype system, the NSF OPAL project also focuses on advancing essential technologies, such as large-grating fabrication techniques and actively-cooled disk amplifiers.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2021

Kinetic simulation study of magnetized collisionless shock formation on a terawatt laser system

Perpendicular, magnetized, collisionless shocks in hydrogen and neon plasmas are studied with 2-D particle-in-cell simulations for parameters accessible to experiments on OMEGA EP. The simulations are performed with realistic ion-electron mass ratios by which the relative importance of different micro-instabilities can be accurately captured. The dispersion relation of the modified two-stream instability (MTSI), the main dissipation mechanism for these shocks, is used to find suitable parameters for upcoming experiments. Simulations show that magnetized collisionless shocks can be readily formed within a few tenths of an ion gyro-period in both hydrogen and neon gases, with a background magnetic field of 50 T, achievable using the magneto-inertial fusion electrical discharge system (MIFEDS). Here, a portion of the ions are reflected to the upstream region and accelerated in both shock normal and tangential directions, indicating the formation of a supercritical shock. Shock front reformation is seen in longer time 1-D simulations. The results show that the formation time and width of these shocks are determined by MTSI.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2023

Calibration of the ProtoDUNE Horizontal-Drift position reconstruction using a laser system

Forthcoming in the next decade of neutrino physics advancements is the construction of the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE), a long baseline neutrino oscillation experiment which has the potential to answer fundamental questions such as why there is more matter than antimatter in the universe, and ultimately why we exist at all. A prototype of this experiment, ProtoDUNE, sits in a charged particle test beam at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) and uses Liquid Argon time projection chambers to image interactions of these particles. ProtoDUNE Single-Phase (ProtoDUNESP) had positively charged hadrons as well as positrons in its initial 2018 beam data run. Because ProtoDUNE is a surface-based time projection chamber, it experiences a constant influx of cosmic rays. These cosmic rays ionize the liquid argon within the detector, resulting in an accumulation of slow moving positive ions towards the cathode. This local charge distribution results in electric field non uniformities, which can have a significant effect on the accuracy of the event reconstruction. This paper outlines a monte carlo simulation study which adapts methodology from the MicroBooNE experiment, another neutrino oscillation experiment, to derive electric field correction maps which can correct for distortions of the electric field within the detector. These correction maps accurately estimate the electric field throughout the detector volume and correct for uncertainties in reconstructed event data enabling for physics discoveries.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2023

Spectral channel splicer for spectral beam combining laser system

A spectral beam combining system includes a spectral channel splicer comprising a plurality of reflectors and a spectral beam combiner comprising a diffraction optical element such as a diffraction grating. This spectral beam combining system may facilitate combining an increased number of spectral channels thereby producing higher optical power of the combining beam system.

Nguyen, Hoang T.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Apparatus for a laser welding system

A laser welding system for welding a component and reducing defects in the weld by ensuring uniform, laminar gas flow over a process area of the system. The laser welding system comprises a laser for welding the component, a platform for supporting the component, an enclosure surrounding the platform, a first actuatable barrier, a second actuatable barrier, an actuator, and a controller. The enclosure includes a plurality of walls, one of the walls having an inlet and another wall having an outlet. The inlet and outlet each having an opening having a cross-sectional area for letting gas flow through. The first and second barriers are configured to modify the cross-sectional areas of the openings when actuated. The actuator is configured to actuate the barriers, and the controller is configured to direct the actuator to actuate the barriers so that the cross-sectional area of the first opening is larger than the cross-sectional area of the second opening so that a pressure at the inlet is greater than a pressure at the outlet.

Sartin, Bryan↗
DOE OSTI2020

Compensation of residual amplitude modulation fluctuations in an optoelectronic system for laser radiation frequency stabilisation

Fluctuations of residual amplitude modulation in a scheme of laser frequency stabilisation by a Fabry – Perot cavity reduce the frequency stability of the laser systems intended for interrogating clock transitions of atoms and ions. The dependences of the residual amplitude modulation on a temperature of the waveguide-based electro-optical modulator used for modulating the radiation phase and on polarisation of the radiation are measured. The parameters are found, at which the influence of the residual amplitude modulation on the frequency stability is minimal. A system for active compensation is created, which reduces the contribution of fluctuations of residual amplitude modulation to the instability down to 2.1 × 10{sup −16}, which makes it possible to reach the thermal noise limit of a silicon cryogenic cavity. (paper)

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2022

National Ignition Facility. Facility and Infrastructure Systems Maintenance Plan

Ensuring the reliability of the NIF, including its support systems, laser systems, target diagnostic systems, and utilities, is essential to the availability of the NIF in its support of NNSA missions. NIF is a key capability in the DOE Stockpile Stewardship Program and supports high energy physics experiments for nuclear weapons, energy, and astrophysics applications. High system reliability provides opportunities for shots and scientific discoveries with opportunities to enhance and upgrade capabilities. This Maintenance Plan (MP) identifies the policies and procedures used to perform and support asset management of the NIF Facility and Infrastructure Systems (FInS), NIF Lasers & Alignment (LASE), NIF Target Experimental Operations (TOPS), NIF Target Area Science and Engineering (TASE), and NIF&PS Control Systems (NCS). The FInS systems include the facility, HVAC, contamination control, beampath, and Line Replaceable Units (LRUs) as well as utilities which create the beampath environments, such as vacuum, argon, or clean dry air. The LASE systems are Programmatic systems which include laser diagnostics, alignment, power conditioning, pulsed power, and input laser systems. The TOPS and TASE systems are also Programmatic systems which include target and diagnostic delivery systems and positioners, many different insertable and fixed target diagnostics, and cryogenic and target gas fill systems. Finally, the NCS systems include both software and hardware for industrial and shot operation control systems. Policies governing administrative and operational practices related to maintenance of FInS, LASE, TOPS, TASE, and NCS systems are described in this plan. In addition, the plan provides processes and procedures for managing, tracking, and documenting the work. This document, the NIF Operations Management Plan, NIF-5020544 (Ref. 1), and NIF Shot Operations Plan, NIF-5018506 (Ref. 2), together satisfy the requirements of the Conduct of Operations. Duties, responsibilities, and reporting requirements of the various positions associated with FInS, LASE, and TOPS maintenance are detailed in this plan. The FInS systems include both Real Property systems with asset management requirements specified in DOE Order 430.1C (Ref. 3) and Programmatic systems. In addition, for FInS, there is a list of the System Level Maintenance Plans (SLMPs) in NIF-1007419198 (Ref. 4) which provide the system descriptions and maintenance plan and schedule. In addition, the list includes the Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) and Experience Centered Maintenance (ECM) evaluations that have been performed for applicable FInS systems as well as reliability criticality per Section 3.5. The -AM version of the NIF Maintenance Plan focuses on the reliability program for FInS, LASE, TOPS, TASE, and NCS within the context of the overall NIF Reliability, Availability, and Maintainability (RAM) program and incorporates changes since the -AL version from August 2011 and has been updated to be fully consistent with the updates to Ref. 1. It also includes asset management considerations, updates to the Work Order (WO) process within the NIF Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) which is EAM infor® System Maintenance and Reliability Tracking (SMaRT) (Ref. 5), and updates to metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs).

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY↗