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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 739 records · Page 41
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2025

Erbium quantum memory platform with long optical coherence via back-end-of-line deposition on foundry-fabricated photonics

Realizing scalable quantum interconnects necessitates the integration of solid-state quantum memories with foundry photonics processes. While prior photonic integration efforts have relied upon specialized, laboratory-scale fabrication techniques, this work demonstrates the monolithic integration of a quantum memory platform with low-loss foundry photonic circuits via back-end-of-line deposition. We deposited thin films of titanium dioxide (Ti⁢O 2 ) doped with erbium (Er) onto silicon nitride nanophotonic waveguides and studied Er optical coherence at subkelvin temperatures with photon echo techniques. Furthermore, we suppressed optical dephasing through ex-situ oxygen annealing and optimized measurement conditions, which yielded an optical coherence time of 64 μ⁢s (a 5-kHz homogeneous linewidth) and slow spectral diffusion of 27 kHz over 4 ms, results that are comparable to state-of-the-art Er nanophotonic devices. Combined with second-long electron spin lifetimes and demonstrated electrical control of Er emission, our findings establish Er:Ti⁢O 2 on foundry photonics as a manufacturable platform for ensemble and single-ion quantum memories.

Electro-optic effects↗
DOE OSTI2024

Object Proxy Patterns for Accelerating Distributed Applications

Workflow and serverless frameworks have empowered new approaches to distributed application design by abstracting compute resources. However, their typically limited or one-size-fits-all support for advanced data flow patterns leaves optimization to the application programmer—optimization that becomes more difficult as data become larger. The transparent object proxy, which provides wide-area references that can resolve to data regardless of location, has been demonstrated as an effective low-level building block in such situations. Here we propose three high-level proxy-based programming patterns—distributed futures, streaming, and ownership—that make the power of the proxy pattern usable for more complex and dynamic distributed program structures. We motivate these patterns via careful review of application requirements and describe implementations of each pattern. As a result, we evaluate our implementations through a suite of benchmarks and by applying them in three meaningful scientific applications, in which we demonstrate substantial improvements in runtime, throughput, and memory usage.

Distributed Computing↗
DOE OSTI2025

Draft assemblies for three geographically distinct isolates of the human-infecting microsporidium Encephalitozoon intestinalis

Encephalitozoon intestinalis is an obligate intracellular parasite that causes enteritis, bronchitis, conjunctivitis, and/or encephalitis in immunosuppressed and immunocompetent individuals. To better assess its genetic diversity, here we report near-chromosome-level draft genome assemblies for three geographically distinct isolates, quadrupling the number of genome assemblies available for the enigmatic fungal pathogen.

Biological and medical sciences↗
DOE OSTI2026

Review of Particle Physics

The Review summarizes much of particle physics and cosmology. Using data from previous editions, plus 3,200 new measurements from 903 papers, we list, evaluate, and average measured properties of gauge bosons and the recently discovered Higgs boson, leptons, quarks, mesons, and baryons. We summarize searches for hypothetical particles such as supersymmetric particles, heavy bosons, axions, dark photons, etc. Particle properties and search limits are listed in Summary Tables. We give numerous tables, figures, formulae, and reviews of topics such as Higgs Boson Physics, Supersymmetry, Grand Unified Theories, Neutrino Mixing, Dark Energy, Dark Matter, Cosmology, Particle Detectors, Colliders, Probability and Statistics. Most of the 118 reviews are updated, including many that are heavily revised.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗
DOE OSTI2026

qSIEVE: Efficient qLDPC Memory via Systolic Movement in Atom Arrays

As quantum machines have scaled up in their number of qubits, significant research has turned towards increasing their fidelity with quantum error correction codes. Although promising results have been shown with the surface code, which only requires near-neighbor connections between qubits, the high qubit overhead of such local codes promises to be problematic. Consequently, recent work has explored non-local quantum LDPC (qLDPC) codes, which have good asymptotic encoding rates. Despite theoretical progress, hardware implementations of these codes have been a longstanding challenge. At the experimental level, demonstrations of movement based communication on atom arrays suggest this is a powerful new primitive to achieve non-local connectivity. Leveraging this, we present a protocol for implementing non-local qLDPC codes in hardware. Our protocol, qSIEVE, is a co-design of such codes with movement in atom arrays. qSIEVE defines a restricted family of qLDPC codes that can be implemented efficiently with systolic movement. We then quantify the utility of qSIEVE in the context of a complete fault tolerant architecture. We compare the cost of implementing benchmark programs in a standard, surface code only architecture and a mixed architecture where data is stored in qLDPC memory with qSIEVE and loaded to surface codes for computation.

Quantum error correction↗
DOE OSTI2025

All-optical control of charge-trapping defects in rare-earth doped oxides

Abstract Charge-trapping defects in crystalline solids play important roles in applications ranging from microelectronics, optical storage, sensing and quantum technologies. On one hand, depleting trapped charges in the host matrix reduces charge noise and enhances coherence of solid-state quantum emitters. On the other hand, stable charge traps can enable high-density optical storage systems. Here we report all-optical control of charge-trapping defects via optical charge trapping (OCT) spectroscopy of a rare-earth ion doped oxide (Y 2 O 3 ). Charge trapping is realized by low intensity optical excitation in the 200–375 nm range. Charge detrapping or depletion is carried out by optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) under 532 nm stimulation. Using a Pr-doped Y 2 O 3 polycrystalline ceramic host matrix, we observe charging pathways via the inter-band optical absorption of Y 2 O 3 and via the 4f-5d transitions of Pr 3+ . We demonstrate effective control of the density of trapped charges within the Y 2 O 3 matrix at ambient environment. These results point to a viable method for controlling the local charge environment in rare-earth doped crystals via all-optical means, and pave the way for further development of efficient optical storage technologies with ultrahigh storage capacity, as well as for the localized control of quantum coherence in rare-earth doped solids.

França, Leonardo V. S. [Pritzker School of Molecul↗
DOE OSTI2025

Image Reconstruction from Sparse-view Data Acquired with Portable X-ray Devices

• Portable X-ray systems enable on-site 3D imaging for non-invasive inspection of suspicious packages and explosives. • Existing reconstruction algorithms (e.g., FDK or Feldkamp, Davis and Kress) require hundreds of projections over 360 degrees. • Sparse-view scan reduces scanning time and setup effort, making it ideal for field use in timecritical scenarios. • Existing reconstruction algorithms introduce severe artifacts when applied to sparse-view data. • We developed a total variation (TV)-based optimization algorithm for yielding 3D images from sparse-view data collected with our portable X-ray imaging system.

Xia, Dan [University of Chicago, Chicago, IL]↗
DOE OSTI2025

Machine Learning-Based Technique for Automated Sensor Characterization

The development of novel instrumentation requires an iterative cycle with three stages: design, prototyping, and testing. Recent advancements in simulation and nanofabrication techniques have significantly accelerated the design and prototyping phases. Nonetheless, detector characterization continues to be a major bottleneck in device development. During the testing phase, a significant time investment is required to characterize the device in different operating conditions and find optimal operating parameters. The total effort spent on characterization and parameter optimization can occupy a year or more of an expert s time. In this work, we present a novel technique for automated sensor calibration that aims to accelerate the testing stage of the development cycle. This technique leverages closed-loop Bayesian optimization (BO), using real-time measurements to guide parameter selection and identify optimal operating states. We demonstrate the method with a novel low-noise CCD, showing that the machine learning-driven tool can efficiently characterize and optimize operation of the sensor in a couple of days without supervision of a device expert.

Zepeda, Cuevas [Chicago U., KICP]↗
DOE OSTI2025

General Biology 2 Sugar Beet Lab - SU2025 - Final

This module uses the Department of Energy Systems Biology Knowledgebase (KBase) platform to explore topics such as genome assembly, metagenomics, and phylogenomics. Here students will use sequences from DNA that they collected to compare the metagenomes of microbial communities from the rhizosphere of plants grown in fertilized vs. unfertilized soils. Using these data students will evaluate the impact of fertilizer on these communities and how these microbial communities influence soil health and plant growth.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2026

Sifting for a Stream: The Morphology of the $300S$ Stellar Stream

Stellar streams are sensitive laboratories for understanding the small-scale structure in our Galaxy’s gravitational field. Here, we analyze the morphology of the $300S$ stellar stream, which has an eccentric, retrograde orbit and thus could be an especially powerful probe of both baryonic and dark substructures within the Milky Way. Due to extensive background contamination from the Sagittarius stream (Sgr), we perform an analysis combining Dark Energy Camera Legacy Survey photometry, $Gaia$ DR3 proper motions, and spectroscopy from the Southern Stellar Stream Spectroscopic Survey (S 5 ). We redetermine the stream coordinate system and distance gradient, then apply two approaches to describe $300S$ ’s morphology. In the first, we analyze stars from $Gaia$ using proper motions to remove Sgr. In the second, we generate a simultaneous model of $300S$ and Sgr based purely on photometric information. Both approaches agree within their respective domains and describe the stream over a region spanning 33° . Overall, $300S$ has three well-defined density peaks and smooth variations in stream width. Furthermore, $300S$ has a possible gap of ~4.7 and a kink. Dynamical modeling of the kink implies that $300S$ was dramatically influenced by the Large Magellanic Cloud. This is the first model of $300S$ ’s morphology across its entire known footprint, opening the door for deeper analysis to constrain the structures of the Milky Way.

Milky Way galaxy↗
DOE OSTI2025

Toward a persistent event-streaming system for high-performance computing applications

High-performance computing (HPC) applications have traditionally relied on parallel file systems and file transfer services to manage data movement and storage. Alternative approaches have been proposed that use direct communications between application components, trading persistence and fault tolerance for speed. Event-driven architectures, as popularized in enterprise contexts, present a compelling middle ground, avoiding the performance cost and API constraints of parallel file systems while retaining persistence and offering impedance matching between application components. However, adapting streaming frameworks to HPC workloads requires addressing challenges unique to HPC systems. This paper investigates the potential for a streaming framework designed for HPC infrastructures and use cases. We introduce Mofka, a persistent event-streaming framework designed specifically for HPC environments. Mofka combines the capabilities of a traditional streaming service with optimizations tailored to the HPC context, such as support for massively multicore nodes, efficient scaling for large producer-consumer workflows, RDMA-enabled high-performance network communications, specialized network fabrics with multiple links per node, and efficient handling of large scientific data payloads. Built using the Mochi suite of HPC data service components, Mofka provides a lightweight, modular, and high-performance solution for persistent streaming in HPC systems. We present the architecture of Mofka and evaluate its performance against Kafka and Redpanda using benchmarks on diverse platforms, including Argonne's Polaris and Oak Ridge's Frontier supercomputers, showing up to 8× improvement in throughput in some scenarios. We then demonstrate its utility in several real-world applications: a tomographic reconstruction pipeline, a workflow for the discovery of metal-organic frameworks for carbon capture, and the instrumentation of Dask workflows for provenance tracking and performance analysis.

HPC↗
DOE OSTI2025

Radio Afterglow Detection and AI-driven Response (RADAR): A Federated Framework for Gravitational-wave Event Follow-up

The landmark detection of both gravitational waves (GWs) and electromagnetic (EM) radiation from the binary neutron star merger GW170817 has spurred efforts to streamline the follow-up of GW alerts in current and future observing runs of ground-based GW detectors. Within this context, the radio band of the EM spectrum presents unique challenges. Sensitive radio facilities capable of detecting the faint radio afterglow seen in GW170817, and with sufficient angular resolution, have small fields of view compared to typical GW localization areas. Additionally, theoretical models predict that the radio emission from binary neutron star mergers can evolve over weeks to years, necessitating long-term monitoring to probe the physics of the various postmerger ejecta components. These constraints, combined with limited radio observing resources, make the development of more coordinated follow-up strategies essential—especially as the next generation of GW detectors promises a dramatic increase in detection rates. Here, we present RADAR, a framework designed to address these challenges by promoting community-driven information sharing, federated data analysis, and system resilience, while integrating AI methods for both GW signal identification and radio data aggregation. We show that it is possible to preserve data rights while sharing models that can help design and/or update follow-up strategies. We demonstrate our approach through a case study of GW170817, and discuss future directions for refinement and broader application.

Gravitational waves↗
DOE OSTI2025

DarkNESS: A skipper-CCD NanoSatellite for Dark Matter Searches

The Dark matter Nanosatellite Equipped with Skipper Sensors (DarkNESS) deploys a recently developed skipper-CCD architecture with sub-electron readout noise in low Earth orbit (LEO) to investigate potential signatures of dark matter (DM). The mission addresses two interaction channels: electron recoils from strongly interacting sub-GeV DM and X-rays produced through decaying DM. Orbital observations avoid attenuation that limits ground-based measurements, extending sensitivity reach for both channels. The mission proceeds toward launch following laboratory validation of the instrument. A launch opportunity has been secured through Firefly Aerospace's DREAM 2.0 program, awarded to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). This will constitute the first use of skipper-CCDs in space and evaluate their suitability for low-noise X-ray and single-photon detection in future space observatories.

Alpine, Phoenix [Illinois U., Urbana (main)] (ORCI↗
DOE OSTI2026

Dark Energy Survey Year 6 Results: MagLim++ Lens Sample Selection and Measurements of Galaxy Clustering

Galaxy clustering is a sensitive probe of the expansion history and growth of structure of the universe, and key degeneracies can be broken by combining these data with measurements of cosmic shear and galaxy-galaxy lensing (a so-called 3$\times$2pt analysis). The largest and least biased statistical samples of galaxies for use in clustering analyses can be collected photometrically through large imaging surveys. However, selecting clean photometric subsamples for cosmology are crucial for avoiding contamination that can bias cosmological constraints. Here we present the MagLim++ galaxy sample, selected to optimize for cosmological constraining power and incorporating an array of novel quality cuts to identify and remove residual contamination. This sample comes from the full six years of observations from the Dark Energy Survey. We present measurements of the two-point angular clustering ($w(θ)$) of 9,186,205 galaxies distributed over 4031 sq. degrees and in six tomographic redshift bins centered at $\bar{z}\approx$ [0.31, 0.44, 0.62, 0.78, 0.90, 1.01]. These measurements are used as part of the 3$\times$2pt and other DES Y6 legacy cosmological analyses in companion works. We describe the battery of null tests and mitigation schemes implemented to address observational, astrophysical, and methodological systematics in the analysis. The resulting $w(θ)$ measurements have a S/N = 149 (90.2 for linear scales only), which we use to place galaxy-clustering-only constraints on the matter density of the Universe, $Ω_m=0.311^{+0.023}_{-0.035}$, and amplitude of galaxy clustering in each redshift bin, $b_iσ_8=[1.16^{+0.04}_{-0.06},\ 1.40^{+0.04}_{-0.06},\ 1.57^{+0.04}_{-0.06},\ 1.59^{+0.04}_{-0.05},\ 1.50^{+0.04}_{-0.05},\ 1.74^{+0.06}_{-0.08}]$.

Weaverdyck, N. [BCCP, Berkeley; UC, Berkeley; LBL,↗
DOE OSTI2026

Probing the Cosmic Axion Background via Axion-Photon Conversion in Filaments

The cosmic axion background (CaB) is a hypothetical population of relativistic axions produced in the early universe. If the CaB is produced from dark matter decays, the axions in this population can convert to photons in the magnetic fields of cosmological filaments, resulting in an isotropic gamma ray background flux. We present new indirect detection constraints on the axion mass and axion-photon coupling, for GeV-TeV dark matter with a decay lifetime below $10^{30}$ sec, by comparing this flux against experimental data. We exclude significant parameter space for axion masses below $10^{-5}$~eV for a broad range of dark matter masses and lifetimes, assuming conservative filament magnetic field strengths ($\sim 1$ nG). For large filament fields ($\sim 100$ nG), our strategy also constrains a portion of the QCD-axion parameter space for TeV-scale dark matter masses.

Rocha, Duncan [Chicago U., EFI; Chicago U., KICP]↗
DOE OSTI2024

Brain phosphoproteomic analysis identifies diabetes‐related substrates in Alzheimer's disease pathology in older adults

INTRODUCTION: Type 2 diabetes increases the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia. Insulin signaling dysfunction exacerbates tau protein phosphorylation, a hallmark of AD pathology. However, the comprehensive impact of diabetes on patterns of AD-related phosphoprotein in the human brain remains underexplored. METHODS: We performed tandem mass tag–based phosphoproteome profiling in post mortem human brain prefrontal cortex samples from 191 deceased older adults with and without diabetes and pathologic AD. RESULTS: Among 7874 quantified phosphosites, microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) phosphorylated at T529 and T534 (isoform 8 T212 and T217) were more abundant in AD and showed differential associations with diabetes. Network analysis of co-abundance patterns uncovered synergistic interactions between AD and diabetes, with one module exhibiting higher MAPT phosphorylation (15 MAPT phosphosites) and another displaying lower MAP1B phosphorylation (22 MAP1B phosphosites). DISCUSSION: This study offers phosphoproteomics insights into AD in diabetes, shedding light on mechanisms that can inform the development of therapeutics for dementia. Highlights: The risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia is increased among older adults living with diabetes. The patterns of AD-related phosphoprotein in the human brain in older adults are differential among older adults living with diabetes. Microtubule-associated protein tau phosphorylated at T529 and T534 (isoform 8 T212 and T217) showed differential associations with diabetes. Phosphosite co-abundance networks of synergistic interactions between AD and diabetes were identified.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2025

Zwitterionic Photocurable Resin for High‐Resolution 3D Printing of Ultralow‐Fouling Microstructures

High‐resolution 3D printing technologies are enabling a new generation of microstructured materials for applications where biocompatibility is critical. However, most conventional 3D‐printable resins yield materials that exhibit trade‐offs between antifouling properties and mechanical robustness, limiting their applicability in living systems. In nature, zwitterionic surface groups form tightly bound hydration layers that act as effective barriers against protein and cell attachment. Inspired by this strategy, a zwitterionic acrylamide‐based photoresist—carboxybetaine di‐methacrylamide (CBDA)—is developed for projection‐based vat photopolymerization, enabling the fabrication of complex microarchitectures with exceptional antifouling properties. The bifunctional monomer allows the formation of dense, cross‐linked networks that resist swelling while maintaining a high density of zwitterionic groups. Printed structures exhibit strong resistance to protein and cell adhesion, as confirmed by porcine blood assays, alongside robust mechanical performance. As a demonstration, a tubular structure featuring a negative Poisson's ratio lattice is printed to showcase structural fidelity and versatility. This resin formulation offers a broadly applicable strategy for fabricating microscale devices and surfaces where antifouling performance and structural integrity are both essential—spanning biomedical interfaces, soft robotics, and beyond.

3D printing↗
DOE OSTI2026

Effect of thermal treatments on electrochemical behavior of binder jetted 17-4 PH stainless steel

Binder jetted 17–4 PH stainless steel was post-processed to relate heat treatment, microstructure, and corrosion in 3.5 wt% NaCl. Specimens were sintered at 1380 or 1400 °C, solution-annealed at 1055 °C for 1 h, and aged at 482 °C for 1 h. Here, as-sintered parts showed α′-martensitic matrix with a δ-ferrite network and Cu-rich precipitates in ferrite; inclusions (MnS, NbC) promoted localized attack. solutionizing redistributed elements and reduced ferrite, while aging generated coherent Cu nano-precipitates. Corrosion resistance was highly sensitive to post-processing in which aged specimens exhibited the lowest corrosion current density and formed a thicker, stable Cr 2 O 3 -rich passive film, whereas sintered specimens degraded most. Pitting potential depended on sintering temperature and microstructure, with 1400 °C sintering yielding more positive pitting potentials and the best overall performance after aging. Although the 1400-solutionized condition showed a relatively noble pitting response versus 1380-solutionized, it displayed unstable corrosion kinetics attributed to an imperfect passive film linked to higher NbC density. XPS depth profiles corroborated these trends, showing thicker, more continuous Cr 2 O 3 in aged states and discontinuous/thinning oxides in less resistant conditions. Practically, high-temperature sintering (∼1400 °C) followed by solutionizing and aging is recommended, with further gains expected from reducing NbC/MnS populations and porosity via powder and process control.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗