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At least 667 records · Page 37

Durability test of a flowing-water target for isotope harvesting

A high intensity proton irradiation was performed with the flowing-water isotope harvesting target at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Cyclotron Laboratory to measure the rate of degradation of the target shell during irradiation conditions. The beam reached an intensity of 34 µA by the end of the irradiation and covered an area of 0.7 cm 2 on the target. Radiolysis products, such as H 2 O 2 , H 2 , and O 2 , were measured in the bulk water of the system and found to be present at much lower levels than predicted by literature escape yields. Radionuclides formed in the target shell were measured in the system water as a radiotracer for target degradation. Using a simple, beam intensity dependent model, a corrosion rate of 1.5E-6 μm/(μA*s) was found to match the measured radiotracer activities at various points in the irradiation. Furthermore, this rate was used to extrapolate the lifetime of future isotope harvesting targets at the NSCL and FRIB, using the areal power density of different ion beams to scale the corrosion rate.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Measurement of the $B_s^0$ → μ + μ - decay properties and search for the B 0 → μ + μ - decay in proton-proton collisions at $\sqrt{s}$ = 13 TeV

Measurements are presented of the $B_s^0$ → μ + μ - branching fraction and effective lifetime, as well as results of a search for the B 0 → μ + μ - decay in proton-proton collisions at at the LHC. The analysis is based on data collected with the CMS detector in 2016–2018 corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 140 fb -1 . The branching fraction of the $B_s^0$ → μ + μ - decay and the effective $B_s^0$ meson lifetime are the most precise single measurements to date. No evidence for the B 0 → μ + μ - decay has been found. All results are found to be consistent with the standard model predictions and previous measurements.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

Polariton Dynamics in Two-Dimensional Ruddlesden–Popper Perovskites Strongly Coupled with Plasmonic Lattices

Strong coupling between light and matter can produce hybrid eigenstates known as exciton-polaritons. Although polariton dynamics are important photophysical properties, the relaxation pathways of polaritons in different coupling regimes have seen limited attention. This paper reports the dynamics of hybridized states from 2D Ruddlesden-Popper perovskites coupled to plasmonic nanoparticle lattices. The open cavity architecture of Al lattices enables the coupling strength to be modulated by varying either the lead halide perovskite film thickness or the superstrate refractive index. Both experiments and finite-difference time-domain simulations of the optical dispersion diagrams showed avoided crossings that are a signature of strong coupling. Furthermore, our analytical model also elucidated the correlation between the exciton/plasmon mixing ratio and polariton coupling strength. Using fs-transient absorption spectroscopy, we found that both the upper and lower polaritons have shorter lifetimes than the excitons and that polaritons can show faster excited state dynamics when they have access to additional energy transfer channels.

2D perovskite↗

Accessing the triplet manifold of naphthalene benzimidazole–phenanthroline in rhenium(i) bichromophores

In this work, the steady-state and ultrafast to supra-nanosecond excited state dynamics of fac-[Re(NBI-phen)(CO) 3 (L)](PF 6 ) (NBI-phen = 16H-benzo[4',5']isoquinolino[2',1':1,2]imidazo[4,5-f][1,10]phenanthrolin-16-one) as well as their respective models of the general molecular formula [Re(phen)(CO) 3 (L)](PF 6 ) (L = PPh 3 and CH 3 CN) has been investigated using transient absorption and time-gated photoluminescence spectroscopy. The NBI-phen containing molecules exhibited enhanced visible light absorption with respect to their models and a rapid formation (<6 ns) of the triplet ligand-centred (LC) excited state of the organic ligand, NBI-phen. These triplet states exhibit an extended excited state lifetime that enable the energized molecules to readily engage in triplet–triplet annihilation photochemistry.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Pathways towards managing cost and degradation risk of fast charging cells with electrical and thermal controls

The charging rate of Li-ion batteries is limited by the risks of lithium plating and thermal damage, both of which negatively affect lifetime of the batteries. This work analyzes how to minimize charge time and manage the risk of degradation using both electrical and thermal controls. To accomplish this, an electrochemical-thermal model is developed to introduce a constant-risk fast charging protocol which maximizes the charging current while maintaining the cell within pre-defined design limits selected to minimize the risk of degradation. Results indicate 80%-charging of a typical NMC/graphite cell can be achieved within 10 minutes with a cell cost under $100 kW –1 h –1 (corresponding to an 80 μm thick anode) when charged at moderate allowable risks of degradation. Here, we also demonstrate how stretching the allowable risk (i.e., higher temperatures, larger C-rates, and lower anode potential limits) allows affordable design of fast charging cells.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Two-photon double ionization with finite pulses: Application of the virtual sequential model to helium

As a step toward the full ab initio description of two-photon double ionization processes, we present a finite-pulse version of the virtual-sequential model for polyelectronic atoms. The model relies on the ab initio description of the single ionization scattering states of both the neutral and ionized target system. As a proof of principle and a benchmark, the model is applied to the helium atom using the newstock atomic photoionization code. The results of angularly integrated observables, which are in excellent agreement with existing time-dependent Schrödinger equation (TDSE) simulations, show how the model is able to capture the role of electron correlation in the nonsequential regime, and the influence of autoionizing states in the sequential regime, at a comparatively modest computational cost. The model also reproduces the two-particle interference with ultrashort pulses, which is within reach of current experimental technologies. Furthermore, the model shows the modulation of the joint energy distribution in the vicinity of autoionizing states, which can be probed with extreme-ultraviolet pulses of duration much longer than the characteristic lifetime of the resonance. Furthermore, the formalism discussed here applies also to polyelectronic atoms and molecules, thus opening a window on nonsequential and sequential double ionization in these more complex systems.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

Dynamics of almost strong edge modes in spin chains away from integrability

Results are presented for the dynamics of an almost strong edge mode which is the quasistable Majorana edge mode occurring in nonintegrable spin chains. The dynamics of the edge mode is studied using exact diagonalization, and compared with time evolution with respect to an effective semi-infinite model in Krylov space obtained from the recursion method. The effective Krylov Hamiltonian is found to resemble a spatially inhomogeneous Su-Schrieffer-Heeger model where the hopping amplitude increases linearly with distance into the bulk, typical of thermalizing systems, but also has a staggered or dimerized structure superimposed on it. Here, the nonperturbatively long lifetime of the edge mode is shown to be due to this staggered structure which diminishes the effectiveness of the linearly growing hopping amplitude. On taking the continuum limit of the Krylov Hamiltonian, the edge mode is found to be equivalent to the quasistable mode of a Dirac Hamiltonian on a half line, with a mass which is nonzero over a finite distance, before terminating into a gapless metallic bulk. The analytic estimates are found to be in good agreement with the numerically obtained lifetimes of the edge mode.

1-dimensional systems↗

Effect of random antiferromagnetic exchange on the spin waves in a three-dimensional Heisenberg ferromagnet

Neutron scattering is used to study spin waves in the three-dimensional Heisenberg ferromagnet YTiO 3 , with spin-spin exchange disorder introduced via La substitution at the Y site. No significant changes are observed in the spin-wave dispersion up to a La concentration of 20%. However, a strong broadening of the spectrum is found, indicative of shortened spin-wave lifetimes. Density-functional theory calculations predict minimal changes in exchange constants as a result of average structural changes due to La substitution, in agreement with the data. The absence of significant changes in the spin-wave dispersion, the considerable lifetime effect, and the reduced ordered magnetic moment previously observed in the La-substituted system are qualitatively captured by an isotropic, nearest-neighbor, three-dimensional Furthermore, Heisenberg ferromagnet model with random antiferromagnetic exchange. We therefore establish Y 1-$x$ La $x$ TiO 3 as a model system for the study of antiferromagnetic spin-exchange disorder in a three-dimensional Heisenberg ferromagnet.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Modeling Molten Salt Reactor Fission Product Removal with SCALE

Liquid-fuel Molten Salt Reactors (MSRs) allow for continuous online fuel treatment and processing using a variety of subsystems. Among these subsystems, the off-gas system (OGS) continuously removes fission products from the primary fuel salt through a helium sparging process. Accurately modeling fission product behavior is paramount for the development of MSRs; while there are a variety of depletion modeling and simulation tools that allow for removal of material from a defined system, most of them work in a semicontinuous, batch-wise manner. The new tools implemented into TRITON, in the SCALE suite for reactor analysis and design, aim to address this issue by implementing truly continuous material feeds and removals. In addition, material accountancy is enhanced in these tools, which enable tracking of removed material in user-specified mixtures. These continuous depletion tools provide a way to model material transport throughout systems more efficiently and accurately. This report validates the new SCALE MSR modeling capabilities using data from the Molten Salt Reactor Experiment (MSRE). After a framework was established for deriving realistic removal rates based on design specifications, these rates were used by TRITON to continuously remove specific elements while performing burnup calculations. Results were compared to those obtained in MSRE, with a focus on the 135 Xe poison fraction. After these capabilities were validated, the learned concepts and best practices were applied to model the Molten Salt Breeder Reactor (MSBR) and the Molten Salt Demonstration Reactor (MSDR) to study the effects of continuous fission product removal in fuel salt reactivity, as well as the lifetime effects.

21 SPECIFIC NUCLEAR REACTORS AND ASSOCIATED PLANTS↗

Photovoltaic System Health-State Architecture for Data-Driven Failure Detection

The timely detection of photovoltaic (PV) system failures is important for maintaining optimal performance and lifetime reliability. A main challenge remains the lack of a unified health-state architecture for the uninterrupted monitoring and predictive performance of PV systems. To this end, existing failure detection models are strongly dependent on the availability and quality of site-specific historic data. The scope of this work is to address these fundamental challenges by presenting a health-state architecture for advanced PV system monitoring. The proposed architecture comprises of a machine learning model for PV performance modeling and accurate failure diagnosis. The predictive model is optimally trained on low amounts of on-site data using minimal features and coupled to functional routines for data quality verification, whereas the classifier is trained under an enhanced supervised learning regime. The results demonstrated high accuracies for the implemented predictive model, exhibiting normalized root mean square errors lower than 3.40% even when trained with low data shares. The classification results provided evidence that fault conditions can be detected with a sensitivity of 83.91% for synthetic power-loss events (power reduction of 5%) and of 97.99% for field-emulated failures in the test-bench PV system. Finally, this work provides insights on how to construct an accurate PV system with predictive and classification models for the timely detection of faults and uninterrupted monitoring of PV systems, regardless of historic data availability and quality. Such guidelines and insights on the development of accurate health-state architectures for PV plants can have positive implications in operation and maintenance and monitoring strategies, thus improving the system’s performance.

photovoltaics↗

Study of neutron beta decay with the Nab experiment

The current three sigma tension in the unitarity test of the Cabbibo-Kobayashi-Maskawa (CKM) matrix is a notable problem with the Standard Model of elementary particle physics. A long-standing goal of the study of free neutron beta decay is to better determine the CKM element Vud through measurements of the neutron lifetime and a decay correlation parameter. The Nab collaboration intends to measure a, the neutrino-electron correlation, with accuracy sufficient for a competitive evaluation of Vud based on neutron decay data alone. This paper gives a status report and an outlook.

Baessler, Stefan↗

Quarterly Management Document – FY22, 1st Quarter, Multi-pass Hybrid Laser Arc Welding of Alloy 740H

This report summarizes the progress made on the project during the first quarter of FY22. The model for deep penetration laser welding continues to be developed to understand and mitigate cracking issues associated with laser welding Alloy 740H. The effects of laser wobble on laser welding of this alloy are also being developed. Additionally, the short-term creep behavior of welds made by various hybrid laser arc parameters has been obtained and the results indicate they are comparable to welds made by conventional gas tungsten arc welding which is a factor 2 slower than the hybrid welds. Additionally, the creep behavior of laser-only welds is also consistent with conventional gas tungsten arc welds as well as the hybrid laser arc welds made under this project. However, the creep rate of the laser-only welds is much higher than that observed in the hybrid laser arc welded specimens. This is most likely due to the narrower weld produced by laser-only welding compared to hybrid laser arc welding and, thus, the higher creep rate of laser-only welded creep specimens is likely a result of the increased fraction of base metal (which exhibits a higher creep rate than weld metal) contained within the gage section of the creep specimen. Creep rupture lifetimes were all about the same for both laser-only and hybrid laser arc welded specimens and consistent with the creep rupture lifetime of conventional gas tungsten arc welded creep specimens.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Uncertainties in the effects of organic aerosol coatings on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations and their estimated health effects

We used the CAM5 model to examine how different particle-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) degradation approaches affect the spatial distribution of benzo(a)pyrene (BaP). Three approaches were evaluated: NOA (no effect of OA coatings state on BaP), shielded (viscous OA coatings shield BaP from oxidation under cool and dry conditions) and ROI-T (viscous OA coatings slow BaP oxidation in response to temperature and humidity). Results show that BaP concentrations vary seasonally, influenced by emissions, deposition, transport and degradation approach, all of which are influenced by meteorological conditions. All simulations predict higher population-weighted global average (PWGA) fresh BaP concentrations during December–January–February (DJF) compared to June–July–August (JJA), due to increased emissions from household activities and reduced removal processes during colder months. The shielded and ROI-T approaches, which account for OA coatings, result in 2–6 times higher BaP concentrations in DJF compared to NOA. The shielded simulation predicts the highest PWGA fresh BaP concentration (1.3 ng m −3 ), with 90 % of BaP protected from oxidation. In contrast, the ROI-T approach forecasts lower concentrations in middle to low latitudes, as it assumes less effective OA coatings under warmer, more humid conditions. Evaluations against observed BaP concentrations show the shielded approach performs best, with a normalized mean bias (NMB) within ± 20 %. The combined incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) for both fresh and oxidized PAHs is similar across simulations, emphasizing the importance of considering both forms in health risk assessments. This study highlights the critical role of accurate degradation approaches in PAH modeling.

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTAN↗

Sensitivity analysis, surrogate modeling, and optimization of pebble-bed reactors considering normal and accident conditions

This research provides a valuable tool that streamlines the optimization process while significantly increasing its accuracy. This study creates a robust framework for reactor design optimization by incorporating comprehensive modeling using the Comprehensive Reactor Analysis Bundle, or BlueCRAB, within the Multiphysics Object-Oriented Simulation Environment (MOOSE). BlueCRAB is the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission's code suite for non-light water reactor analysis and includes the Griffin, Pronghorn, and Bison applications. This not only improves the efficiency of the optimization process but also enhances the reliability of the results. Such a tool is essential for advancing the state-of-the-art in pebble-bed reactor technology and is critical for achieving the goals of Generation IV reactors, which aim for safe, sustainable, and economically viable nuclear energy solutions. This work presents and applies this workflow on pebble-bed reactors while considering both normal and off-normal conditions. A representative gas-cooled pebble-bed reactor at equilibrium core conditions serves as the nominal design specification for normal operation and is based on previous research. The depressurized loss-of-forced-cooling accident is deployed for off-normal conditions in this work. After defining design-related parameters and quantities of interest regarding reactor safety and performance, this multiphysics model is sampled using the MOOSE stochastic tools module. The result is a comprehensive dataset of configurations, enabling sensitivity analysis and the generation of surrogate models. Subsequently, the dataset and surrogate models are employed in two optimization studies aimed at maximizing fuel utilization and economic profit while adhering to safety and operational constraints. Performing the optimization process with fuel utilization as the metric leads to an improvement of approximately 10%, compared to engineering-judgment-based nominal conditions. The optimization on economic profit leads to an estimated increase of ~300 million USD over the lifetime of the reactor.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

Deviations from the Porter-Thomas Distribution due to Nonstatistical 𝛾 Decay below the 150 Nd Neutron Separation Threshold

We introduce a new method for the study of fluctuations of partial transition widths based on nuclear resonance fluorescence experiments with quasimonochromatic linearly polarized photon beams below particle separation thresholds. It is based on the average branching of decays of 𝐽=1 states of an even-even nucleus to the 2$^{+}_{1}$ state in comparison to the ground state. Between 5 and 7 MeV, a constant average branching ratio for 𝛾 decays from 1 − states of 0.490(16) is observed for the nuclide 150 Nd. Assuming 𝜒 2 -distributed partial transition widths, this average branching ratio is related to a degree of freedom of 𝜈 = 1.93⁢(12), rejecting the validity of the Porter-Thomas distribution, requiring 𝜈 = 1. The observed deviation can be explained by nonstatistical effects in the 𝛾-decay behavior with contributions in the range of 9.4(10)% up to 94(10)%.

150 ≤ A ≤ 189↗

Gapless Floquet topology

Symmetry-protected topological (SPT) phases in insulators and superconductors are known for their robust edge modes, linked to bulk invariants through the bulk-boundary correspondence. While this principle traditionally applies to gapped phases, recent advances have extended it to gapless systems, where topological edge-states persist even in the absence of a bulk gap. We extend this framework to periodically driven chains with chiral symmetry, revealing the existence of topological edge zero and π modes despite the lack of bulk gaps in the quasienergy spectrum. By examining the half-period decomposition of chiral evolutions, we construct topological invariants that circumvent the need to define the Floquet Hamiltonian, making them more suitable for generalization to the gapless regime. We provide explicit examples, including generalizations of the Kitaev chain and related spin models, where localized π modes emerge even when the bulk is gapless at the same quasienergy as the edge modes. Here, we numerically study the effect of interactions, which give a finite lifetime to the edge modes in the thermodynamic limit with the decay rate consistent with Fermi's golden rule.

1-dimensional systems↗

φ meson production in ρ + Al, ρ + Au, d + Au , and 3 He + Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV

We report small nuclear collisions are mainly sensitive to cold-nuclear-matter effects; however, the collective behavior observed in these collisions shows a hint of hot-nuclear-matter effects. The identified-particle spectra, especially the φ mesons which contain strange and antistrange quarks and have a relatively small hadronic-interaction cross section, are a good tool to study these effects. The PHENIX experiment has measured φ mesons in a specific set of small collision systems p+Al, p+Au, and 3 He+Au, as well as d+Au at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$=200 GeV. The transverse-momentum spectra and nuclear-modification factors are presented and compared to theoretical-model predictions. The comparisons with different calculations suggest that quark-gluon plasma may be formed in these small collision systems at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$=200 GeV. However, the volume and the lifetime of the produced medium may be insufficient for observing strangeness-enhancement and jet-quenching effects. The comparison with calculations suggests that the main production mechanisms of φ mesons at midrapidity may be different in p+Al versus p/d/ 3 He+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$=200 GeV. While thermal quark recombination seems to dominate in p/d/ 3 He+Au collisions, fragmentation seems to be the main production mechanism in p+Al collisions.

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗

Optimization-Based Fast-Frequency Estimation and Control of Low-Inertia Microgrids

The lack of inertial response from non-synchronous, inverter-based generation in microgrids makes the power system vulnerable to a large rate of change of frequency (ROCOF) and frequency excursions. Energy storage systems (ESSs) can be utilized to provide fast-frequency support to prevent such large excursions in the system. However, fast-frequency support is a power-intensive application that has a significant impact on the ESS lifetime. In this paper, a framework that allows the ESS operator to provide fast-frequency support as a service is proposed. The framework maintains the desired quality-of-service (limiting the ROCOF and frequency) while taking into account the ESS lifetime and physical limits. The framework utilizes moving horizon estimation (MHE) to estimate the frequency deviation and ROCOF from noisy phase-locked loop (PLL) measurements. These estimates are employed by a model predictive control (MPC) algorithm that computes control actions by solving a finite-horizon, online optimization problem. Additionally, this approach avoids oscillatory behavior induced by delays that are common when using low-pass filters as with traditional derivative-based (virtual inertia) controllers. MATLAB/Simulink simulations on a test system from Cordova, Alaska, show the effectiveness of the MHE-MPC approach to reduce frequency deviations and ROCOF of a low-inertia microgrid.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗