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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 631 records · Page 35
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2022

Light Yield Calibration in MicroBooNE

The MicroBooNE detector is a Liquid Argon Time Projection Chamber (LArTPC) located along the Booster Neutrino Beam (BNB) at Fermilab. Its primary physics goal is to contribute to addressing the elusive short-baseline MiniBooNE low energy excess. MicroBooNE records and utilises both the ionisation charge and scintillation light produced inside the TPC to select and reconstruct neutrino interactions. The scintillation light collected using a plane of PhotoMultiplier Tubes (PMTs) is also used for accurate event timing and cosmic muon rejection with the latter being an important background for detectors, such as MicroBooNE, located on the surface. A good understanding of light modeling and its related systematic uncertainties is crucial to evaluate their impact on physics analyses. The experience acquired from MicroBooNE regarding how the stability of the scintillation light behaves and evolves during the 5 years of the primary physics run will be discussed as well as the calibration method used. This experience will help with understanding the physics of scintillation light in LArTPCs for the future long-running Short-Baseline Neutrino (SBN) and Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) programs.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2024

Specification Guidance for School Lighting Systems [Slides]

Lighting is a key component to creating a functional and high-quality learning environment for students and staff. LED lighting is a common lighting technology being specified today and many options are available for replacement or integration with existing fluorescent lighting systems. This document intends to help school districts retrofit or replace existing lighting systems in order to improve the classroom and school environment and reduce energy consumption and associated carbon emissions.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2020

The Catalytic Activity of TiO 2 Toward a Multicomponent Reaction Depends on its Morphology, Mechanoactivation and Presence of Visible Light

Aims: Test the hypothesis that the catalytic activity of TiO2 nanoparticles towards a liquidphase or mechanoactivated multicomponent reaction can be tuned by visible light and the shape of nanoparticles. Background: Catalytic multicomponent reactions have been proven to be excellent synthetic approaches to a series of biologically relevant compounds including 2-amino-4H-benzo[b]pyrans. However, the potential photocatalytic activity and structural diversity of nanostructured catalysts remained underutilized in the design of new catalytic systems. Objective: Harness the photocatalytic potential and diverse morphology of TiO2 particles as catalysts for the liquid phase and mechanoactivated multicomponent organic reactions. Results: Catalytic activity of TiO2 nanoparticles towards multicomponent synthesis of 2-amino-4Hbenzo[ b]pyrans is increased by visible light. The nanorod-shaped TiO2 nanoparticles have shown substantially higher catalytic activity towards mechanoactivated multicomponent synthesis of 2- amino-4H-benzo[b]pyrans than their spherically-shaped counterparts. Conclusion: : An efficient methodology for the synthesis of 2-amino-4H-benzo[b]pyrans under ambient light condition has been developed using TiO2 nanorods (high aspect ratio anatase nanocrystals) as photocatalyst. This simple method furnished the corresponding terahydrobenzopyrans in high yields via three component reaction of aldehyde, malononitrile, and dimidone under solvent free reaction conditions at room temperature. The reaction takes 8-10 min at room temperature under ambient light condition and the catalyst can be reused multiple times. Utilization of light and the nanorod morphology of the catalyst through mechanoactivation has been applied for the -first time to the synthetic technique of multicomponent reactions. The synthetic procedures for 2-amino-4Hbenzo[ b]pyrans have been improved.

Thirumeni, Subramanian↗
DOE OSTI2021

Probing Light-Dependent Regulation of the Calvin Cycle Using a Multi-Omics Approach

Photoautotrophic microorganisms are increasingly explored for the conversion of atmospheric carbon dioxide into biomass and valuable products. The Calvin-Benson-Bassham (CBB) cycle is the primary metabolic pathway for net CO 2 fixation within oxygenic photosynthetic organisms. The cyanobacteria, Synechocystissp. PCC 6803, is a model organism for the study of photosynthesis and a platform for many metabolic engineering efforts. The CBB cycle is regulated by complex mechanisms including enzymatic abundance, intracellular metabolite concentrations, energetic cofactors and post-translational enzymatic modifications that depend on the external conditions such as the intensity and quality of light. However, the extent to which each of these mechanisms play a role under different light intensities remains unclear. In this work, we conducted non-targeted proteomics in tandem with isotopically non-stationary metabolic flux analysis (INST-MFA) at four different light intensities to determine the extent to which fluxes within the CBB cycle are controlled by enzymatic abundance. The correlation between specific enzyme abundances and their corresponding reaction fluxes is examined, revealing several enzymes with uncorrelated enzyme abundance and their corresponding flux, suggesting flux regulation by mechanisms other than enzyme abundance. Additionally, the kinetics of 13 C labeling of CBB cycle intermediates and estimated inactive pool sizes varied significantly as a function of light intensity suggesting the presence of metabolite channeling, an additional method of flux regulation. These results highlight the importance of the diverse methods of regulation of CBB enzyme activity as a function of light intensity, and highlights the importance of considering these effects in future kinetic models.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2021

Stomatal Responses to Light, CO 2 , and Mesophyll Tissue in Vicia faba and Kalanchoë fedtschenkoi

The responses of stomatal aperture to light intensity and CO 2 concentration were studied in both Vicia faba (C 3 ) and Kalanchoë fedtschenkoi (Crassulacean acid metabolism; CAM), in material sampled from both light and dark periods. Direct comparison was made between intact leaf segments, epidermises grafted onto exposed mesophyll, and isolated epidermal peels, including transplantations between species and between diel periods. We reported the stomatal opening in response to darkness in isolated CAM peels from the light period, but not from the dark. Furthermore, we showed that C 3 mesophyll has stimulated CAM stomata in transplanted peels to behave as C 3 in response to light and CO 2 . By using peels and mesophyll from plants sampled in the dark and the light period, we provided clear evidence that CAM stomata behaved differently from C 3 . This might be linked to stored metabolites/ions and signalling pathway components within the guard cells, and/or a mesophyll-derived signal. Overall, our results provided evidence for both the involvement of guard cell metabolism and mesophyll signals in stomatal responses in both C 3 and CAM species.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

Photonic Angular Momentum in Intense Light–Matter Interactions

Light contains both spin and orbital angular momentum. Despite contributing equally to the total photonic angular momentum, these components derive from quite different parts of the electromagnetic field profile, namely its polarization and spatial variation, respectively, and therefore do not always share equal influence in light–matter interactions. With the growing interest in utilizing light’s orbital angular momentum to practice added control in the study of atomic systems, it becomes increasingly important for students and researchers to understand the subtlety involved in these interactions. In this article, we present a review of the fundamental concepts and recent experiments related to the interaction of beams containing orbital angular momentum with atoms. An emphasis is placed on understanding light’s angular momentum from the perspective of both classical waves and individual photons. We then review the application of these beams in recent experiments, namely single- and few-photon transitions, strong-field ionization, and high-harmonic generation, highlighting the role of light’s orbital angular momentum and the atom’s location within the beam profile within each case.

Optics↗
DOE OSTI2022

Light-Dependence of Formate (C1) and Acetate (C2) Transport and Oxidation in Poplar Trees

Although apparent light inhibition of leaf day respiration is a widespread reported phenomenon, the mechanisms involved, including utilization of alternate respiratory pathways and substrates and light inhibition of TCA cycle enzymes are under active investigation. Recently, acetate fermentation was highlighted as a key drought survival strategy mediated through protein acetylation and jasmonate signaling. Here, we evaluate the light-dependence of acetate transport and assimilation in Populus trichocarpa trees using the dynamic xylem solution injection (DXSI) method developed here for continuous studies of C1 and C2 organic acid transport and light-dependent metabolism. Over 7 days, 1.0 L of [13C]formate and [13C2]acetate solutions were delivered to the stem base of 2-year old potted poplar trees, while continuous diurnal observations were made in the canopy of CO2, H2O, and isoprene gas exchange together with δ13CO2. Stem base injection of 10 mM [13C2]acetate induced an overall pattern of canopy branch headspace 13CO2 enrichment (δ13CO2 +27‰) with a diurnal structure in δ13CO2 reaching a mid-day minimum followed by a maximum shortly after darkening where δ13CO2 values rapidly increased up to +12‰. In contrast, 50 mM injections of [13C]formate were required to reach similar δ13CO2 enrichment levels in the canopy with δ13CO2 following diurnal patterns of transpiration. Illuminated leaves of detached poplar branches pretreated with 10 mM [13C2]acetate showed lower δ13CO2 (+20‰) compared to leaves treated with 10 mM [13C]formate (+320‰), the opposite pattern observed at the whole plant scale. Following dark/light cycles at the leaf-scale, rapid, strong, and reversible enhancements in headspace δ13CO2 by up to +60‰ were observed in [13C2]acetate-treated leaves which showed enhanced dihydrojasmonic acid and TCA cycle intermediate concentrations. The results are consistent with acetate in the transpiration stream as an effective activator of the jasmonate signaling pathway and respiratory substrate. The shorter lifetime of formate relative to acetate in the transpiration stream suggests rapid formate oxidation to CO2 during transport to the canopy. In contrast, acetate is efficiently transported to the canopy where an increased allocation towards mitochondrial dark respiration occurs at night. The results highlight the potential for an effective integration of acetate into glyoxylate and TCA cycles and the light-inhibition of citrate synthase as a potential regulatory mechanism controlling the diurnal allocation of acetate between anabolic and catabolic processes.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2024

Investigating the Influence of River Geomorphology on Human Presence Using Night Light Data: A Case Study in the Indus Basin

Human settlements have historically thrived near rivers due to enhanced navigation and trade, and the availability of water supply and resources. The use of night light data, representing economic activities, provides a novel approach to studying the interactions between human activity and rivers over time. Here, we use the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program (DMSP) stable night light data from 2000 to 2013 as a proxy for human presence and activities to quantify the statistical relationships between night light presence and intensity in the Indus Basin, Asia. We test how these data are affected by proximity to trunk channels and by channel type (single/multi-thread) in the study area. We find that night light presence is enhanced by 26% within a 0 to 5 km proximity range of the Indus River and its tributaries, relative to the basin as a whole. We interpret this to represent increased human presence and activity within this zone. However, the mean intensity is lower near the river and higher away from the river, signifying denser settlements, such as towns and cities, which are preferentially located away from the Indus and its tributaries. Moreover, the enhancement of lit pixels signifying human presence and activities is increased by 18% near single-thread sections of the Indus River, compared to segments of the Indus displaying multi-thread morphologies. We suggest that this is due to the enhanced stability of single-threaded channels, relative to mobile multi-threaded channel reaches. This study demonstrates how night lights are an important tool in studying the relationship between human presence and river dynamics in large catchments such as the Indus, and we suggest that these data will have an important role in assessing differential flood spatial and social vulnerability at a regional scale.

Environmental Sciences & Ecology↗
DOE OSTI2021

The Dark World: A Tale of WASP-43b in Reflected Light with HST WFC3/UVIS

Optical reflected light eclipse observations provide a direct probe of exoplanet scattering properties, such as from aerosols. We present here the photometric reflected light observations of WASP-43b using the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) WFC3/UVIS instrument with the F350LP filter (346–822 nm) encompassing the entire optical band. This is the first reflected light photometric eclipse using UVIS in scanning mode; as such, we further detail our scanning extraction and analysis pipeline Arctor. Our HST WFC3/UVIS eclipse light curve for WASP-43b derived a 3σ upper limit of 67 ppm on the eclipse depth, which implies that WASP-43b has a very dark dayside atmosphere. With our atmospheric modeling campaign, we compared our reflected light constraints with predictions from global circulation and cloud models benchmarked with HST and Spitzer observations of WASP-43b. We infer that we do not detect clouds on the dayside within the pressure levels probed by HST WFC3/UVIS with the F350LP filter (P > 1 bar). This is consistent with the general circulation model predictions based on previous WASP-43b observations. Dayside emission spectroscopy results from WASP-43b with HST and Spitzer observations are likely to not be significantly affected by contributions from cloud particles.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗
DOE OSTI2021

Probing Intra-Halo Light with Galaxy Stacking in CIBER Images

We study the stellar halos of 0.2 ≲ $z$ ≲ 0.5 galaxies with stellar masses spanning $M$* ~ 10 10.5 to 10 12 $M$ ⊙ (approximately $L$* galaxies at this redshift) using imaging data from the Cosmic Infrared Background Experiment (CIBER). A previous CIBER fluctuation analysis suggested that intra-halo light (IHL) contributes a significant portion of the near-infrared extragalactic background light (EBL), the integrated emission from all sources throughout cosmic history. In this work, we carry out a stacking analysis with a sample of ~30,000 Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) photometric galaxies from CIBER images in two near-infrared bands (1.1 and 1.8 $μ$m) to directly probe the IHL associated with these galaxies. We stack galaxies in five sub-samples split by brightness and detect an extended galaxy profile beyond the instrument point-spread function (PSF) derived by stacking stars. We jointly fit a model for the inherent galaxy light profile plus large-scale one- and two-halo clustering to measure the extended galaxy IHL. We detect nonlinear one-halo clustering in the 1.8 $μ$m band at a level consistent with numerical simulations. Furthermore, by extrapolating the fraction of extended galaxy light, we measure to all galaxy mass scales, we find ~30%/15% of the total galaxy light budget from galaxies is at radius $r$ > 10/20 kpc, respectively. These results are new at near-infrared wavelengths at the $L$* mass scale and suggest that the IHL emission and one-halo clustering could have appreciable contributions to the amplitude of large-scale EBL background fluctuations.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2026

Optimizing Optical Searches for Supermassive Black Hole Binaries in Active Galactic Nuclei Light Curves: Fourier versus Bayesian Periodicity Detection

Simulations predict that supermassive black hole binaries (SMBHBs) will exhibit periodic brightness variations that may exceed the stochastic variability intrinsic to active galactic nuclei (AGN). In this paper, we simulate SMBHBs with damped random walk (DRW) AGN variability and an added sinusoidal signal from the orbital motion, and test three methods—a generalized Lomb–Scargle periodogram (GLSP), a nested Bayesian sampler (NBS), and a weighted wavelet z-transform (or WWZ)—to determine which is best at recovering the periodicity. Our simulated light curves follow the properties of the Catalina Real-Time Transient Survey (or CRTS), Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST), and Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) to best inform current and future SMBHB searches. We map a broad range of parameter space and identify which DRW-only light curves best mimic periodicity and pass each method’s model selection. The NBS performs best at detecting periodicity and filtering out DRW-only light curves. Combined candidate selection with both the NBS and GLSP significantly reduces false-positive rates (FPRs) with marginal impact on true-positive rates (TPRs). With this joint model selection pipeline, we find the lowest FPRs in ZTF-like simulations and the highest detection rates in LSST-like simulations. Using a modified computation of the false-alarm probability with GLSP, we efficiently triage LSST AGN light curves (∼10 7 light curves in ∼10–30 hr) and achieve TPRs and FPRs of ∼40% and ∼0.5%, respectively.

Banaszak, Sebastian M. [Vanderbilt Univ., Nashvill↗
DOE OSTI2024

Measuring Black Hole Light Echoes with Very Long Baseline Interferometry

Light passing near a black hole can follow multiple paths from an emission source to an observer due to strong gravitational lensing. Photons following different paths take different amounts of time to reach the observer, which produces an echo signature in the image. The characteristic echo delay is determined primarily by the mass of the black hole, but it is also influenced by the black hole spin and inclination to the observer. In the Kerr geometry, echo images are demagnified, rotated, and sheared copies of the direct image and lie within a restricted region of the image. Echo images have exponentially suppressed flux, and temporal correlations within the flow make it challenging to directly detect light echoes from the total light curve. In this Letter, we propose a novel method to search for light echoes by correlating the total light curve with the interferometric signal at high spatial frequencies, which is a proxy for indirect emission. We explore the viability of our method using numerical general relativistic magnetohydrodynamic simulations of a near-face-on accretion system scaled to M87-like parameters. We demonstrate that our method can be used to directly infer the echo delay period in simulated data. An echo detection would be clear evidence that we have captured photons that have circled the black hole, and a high-fidelity echo measurement would provide an independent measure of fundamental black hole parameters. Our results suggest that detecting echoes may be achievable through interferometric observations with a modest space-based very long baseline interferometry mission.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
NASA NTRS1972

Visual light flash phenomenon, part C

The Apollo 16 mission provided the opportunity to obtain additional data on the characteristics and frequency of the light flashes and also provided the first opportunity to obtain a direct physical record of incident cosmic ray particles with the Apollo light flash moving emulsion detector (ALFMED). The ALFMED is an electromechanical device that is worn on the head like a helmet and supports cosmic radiation-sensitive emulsions around the head of the test subject. Two light flash observation sessions were conducted during the mission: one during translunar coast and the second during transearth coast. Characteristics of the light flashes observed and reported by the Apollo crew members were generally similar to those reported on previous missions. Analyses of the ALFMED emulsion plates are proceeding as scheduled, although results are not yet available. The ALFMED results should provide conclusive evidence establishing the correlation, if any, between the incident cosmic ray particles and the perception of light flashes as reported by Apollo crew members.

Richard E. Benson↗
NASA NTRS1972

The light ion trough.

A distinct feature of the ion composition results from the OGO-2, 4 and 6 satellites is the light ion trough, wherein the mid-latitude concentrations of H+ and He+ decrease sharply with latitude. In contrast to the 'main trough' in electron density observed primarily as a nightside phenomenon, the light ion trough persists during both day and night. For daytime winter hemisphere conditions and for all seasons during night, the mid-latitude light ion concentration decrease is a pronounced feature. In the dayside summer and equinox hemispheres, the rate of light ion decrease with latitude is comparatively gradual, and the trough boundary is less well defined, particularly for quiet magnetic conditions. In response to magnetic storms, the light ion trough minimum moves equatorward, and deepens, consistent with earlier evidence of the contraction of the plasmasphere in response to storm time enhancements in magnetospheric plasma convection.

Taylor, H. A., Jr.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Study of resonance light scattering for remote optical probing

Enhanced scattering and fluorescence processes in the visible and UV were investigated which will enable improved remote measurements of gas properties. The theoretical relationship between scattering and fluorescence from an isolated molecule in the approach to resonance is examined through analysis of the time dependence of re-emitted light following excitation of pulsed incident light. Quantitative estimates are developed for the relative and absolute intensities of fluorescence and resonance scattering. New results are obtained for depolarization of scattering excited by light at wavelengths within a dissociative continuum. The experimental work was performed in two separate facilities. One of these utilizes argon and krypton lasers, single moded by a tilted etalon, and a 3/4 meter double monochromator. This facility was used to determine properties of the re-emission from NO2, I2 and O3 excited by visible light. The second facility involves a narrow-line dye laser, and a 3/4 meter single monochromator. The dye laser produces pulsed light with 5 nsec pulse duration and 0.005 nm spectral width.

Penney, C. M.↗
NASA NTRS1976

The effect of low light intensity on the maintenance of circadian synchrony in human subjects

Experiments were conducted on six healthy male subjects aged 20-23 yr and exposed for 21 days in a confined regulated environment to 16L:8D light:dark cycle with a view toward determining whether the light environment of 16L:8D at the relatively low light intensity of 15 ft.c. is adequate for the maintenance of circadian synchrony in man. The light intensity was 100 ft.c. during the first seven days, reduced to 15 ft.c. during the next seven days, and increased again to 100 ft.c. during the last seven days. Rectal temperature (RT) and heart rate (HR) were recorded throughout the three phases. In the 100 ft.c. regime, the RT and HR rhythms remained stable and circadian throughout. It is shown that 15 ft.c. light intensity is at or below threshold for maintaining circadian synchrony of human physiologic rhythms marked by instability and internal desynchronization with degradation of performance and well-being.

Winget, C. M.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Ultraviolet photometry from the Orbiting Astronomical Observatory. XXVIII - Ultraviolet light curves for Alpha Lupi and BW Vulpeculae

Photometric data from the Wisconsin Experiment Package on OAO-2 have been used to construct light curves at three ultraviolet wavelengths for Alpha Lup and at seven wavelengths for BW Vul. Both stars are well-known variables of the Beta Cephei (Beta Canis Majoris) type. The light curves for Alpha Lup are in good agreement with the radial-velocity period. A temperature variation of 400-500 K is derived. The BW Vul light curves confirm recent ephemerides based on a secularly varying period and show a stillstand near light maximum at some wavelengths. Both stars exhibit increasing light amplitude at the shortest ultraviolet wavelengths. There is little evidence for cycle-to-cycle variations on a time scale of the order of 1 day.

Lesh, J. R.↗
NASA NTRS1978

Zodiacal light as an indicator of interplanetary dust

The most striking feature of the night sky in the tropics is the zodiacal light, which appears as a cone in the west after sunset and in the east before sunrise. It is caused by sunlight scattered or absorbed by particles in the interplanetary medium. The zodiacal light is the only source of information about the integrated properties of the whole ensemble of interplanetary dust. The brightness and polarization in different directions and at different colors can provide information on the optical properties and spatial distribution of the scattering particles. The zodiacal light arises from two independent physical processes related to the scattering of solar continuum radiation by interplanetary dust and to thermal emission which arises from solar radiation that is absorbed by interplanetary dust and reemitted mainly at infrared wavelengths. Attention is given to observational parameters of zodiacal light, the methods of observation, errors and absolute calibration, and the observed characteristics of zodiacal light.

Weinberg, J. L.↗