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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 757 records · Page 42

A Review of Global Radioxenon Background Research and Issues

Among the most important problems for the world-wide nuclear explosion monitoring is the interference of naturally occurring and man-made radionuclides. The International Monitoring System (IMS) of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) frequently detects these interferences using sensitive radionuclide measurement equipment. We commonly refer to the presence of radionuclides that are relevant to the CTBT but do not originate from a nuclear explosion as “background”. Backgrounds are highest near the sources but are known to have regional and global effects on the IMS. This review paper summarizes much of the relevant work in the area of background and discusses issues of interest for nuclear explosion detection.

98 NUCLEAR DISARMAMENT, SAFEGUARDS, AND PHYSICAL P↗

Crop models: integrating systems from the molecular to global for agricultural productivity and sustainability

Mathematical models that simulate crop growth in response to environmental conditions and management practices are essential tools for exploring agriculture-based strategies to address food security and environmental sustainability challenges. Early applications of crop models focused on supporting farmers in making management decisions. Applications have since expanded to estimating future impacts on local and global food production from changing climates. Emerging applications of crop models aim to leverage how these models integrate plant processes across biological scales to identify engineering or breeding strategies that account for environmentally-responsive dynamics at field scales and for exploring solutions to improve sustainability. In this review, we highlight recent studies across these four broad application areas and highlight potential future directions for the crop modeling field.

Piao, Ximin [Univ. of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign↗

Benefits and pathologies associated with the inflammatory response

Adult skeletal muscle regenerates completely after a damage, thanks to the satellite cells, or muscle stem cells (MuSCs), that implement the adult myogenic program. This program is sustained by both robust intrinsic mechanisms and extrinsic cues coming from the close neighborhood of MuSCs during muscle regeneration. Among the various cell types present in the regenerating muscle, immune cells, and particularly macrophages, exert numerous functions and provide sequential transient niches to support the myogenic program. The adequate orchestration of the delivery of these cues ensures efficient muscle regeneration and full functional recovery. The situation is very different in muscular dystrophies where asynchronous and permanent microinjuries occur, triggering contradictory regenerating cues at the same time in a specific area, that lead to chronic inflammation and fibrogenesis. Here we review the beneficial effects that leukocytes, and particularly macrophages, exert on their neighboring cells during skeletal muscle regeneration after an acute injury. Then, the more complicated (and less beneficial) roles of leukocytes during muscular dystrophies are presented. Finally, we discuss how the inflammatory compartment may be a target to improve muscle regeneration in both acute muscle injury and muscle diseases.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Energy-recovery linacs for energy-efficient particle acceleration

Energy Recovery Linacs (ERLs) are inherently energy-efficient because the RF power needed for acceleration is recovered during deceleration. Energy recovery enables extremely high-power beams which are not economically or ecologically possible using a simple Linac. The fundamental technology is not new but has taken on an increased importance in recent years. Here in this Review, I describe the positive aspects of the technology, the areas that are under active study to improve the overall efficiency, and areas that still need further R&D. The need for validation of the entire system will be explained and the active proposals described.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Unipolar light: existence, generation, propagation, and impact on microobjects

A review is presented of recent works on optical unipolar pulses, whose electric area (integral of the electric field strength over time) is nonzero, which determines the predominant direction of the electric field strength. It is shown that the existence of unipolar pulses does not contradict Maxwell’s equations, and that unipolar pulses can propagate in waveguides. It is emphasised that, along with the spectral, energy, and polarisation parameters, the electric area of short light pulses is also an important characteristic. The unidirectional action of these pulses on microobjects indicates that it is promising to develop methods for generating radiation with such properties. We disciuss methods for the generation, propagation, and interaction of unipolar light with classical and quantum systems, as well as methods for recording the electric area of light pulses. (invited paper)

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Roadmap on cosmic EUV and x-ray spectroscopy

Cosmic EUV/x-ray spectroscopists, including both solar and astrophysical analysts, have a wide range of high-resolution and high-sensitivity tools in use and a number of new facilities in development for launch. As this bandpass requires placing the spectrometer beyond the Earth’s atmosphere, each mission represents a major investment by a national space agency such as NASA, ESA, or JAXA, and more typically a collaboration between two or three. In general justifying new mission requires an improvement in capabilities of at least an order of magnitude, but the sensitivity of these existing missions are already taxing existing atomic data quantity and accuracy. This roadmap reviews the existing missions, showing how in a number of areas atomic data limits the science that can be performed. The missions that will be launched in the coming Decade will without doubt require both more and improved measurements of wavelengths and rates, along with theoretical calculations of collisional and radiative cross sections for a wide range of processes.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Assessment of Sandia's 2021 Pilot Program for Research Traineeships to Broaden and Diversify Fusion Energy Science: Development and Rapid Screening of Refractory Multi-Principal Elemental Composites for Plasma Facing Components

The Fusion Energy Sciences office supported “A Pilot Program for Research Traineeships to Broaden and Diversify Fusion Energy Sciences” at Sandia National Laboratories during the summer of 2021. This pilot project was motivated in part by the Fusion Energy Sciences Advisory Committee report observation that “The multidisciplinary workforce needed for fusion energy and plasma science requires that the community commit to the creation and maintenance of a healthy climate of diversity, equity, and inclusion, which will benefit the community as a whole and the mission of FES”. The pilot project was designed to work with North Carolina A&T (NCAT) University and leverage SNL efforts in FES to engage underrepresented students in developing and accessing advanced material solutions for plasma facing components in fusion systems. The intent was to create an environment conducive to the development of a sense of belonging amongst participants, foster a strong sense of physics identity among the participants, and provide financial support to enable students to advance academically while earning money. The purpose of this assessment is to review what worked well and lessons that can be learned. We reviewed implementation and execution of the pilot, describe successes and areas for improvement and propose a no-cost extension of the pilot project to apply these lessons and continue engagement activities in the summer of 2022.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

An Updated Review of the Solar PV Installation Workforce Literature

In order to develop a well-trained, equitable, and inclusive workforce with high quality jobs, the DOE Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) identified a need for analytical context around different PV project characteristics and labor aspects, and how they might impact workforce wellbeing and PV industry growth. To determine the most valuable novel analytical contributions, this work reviews existing literature on solar workforce topics to identify what areas have been studied previously and where gaps remain. Focus areas included the following topics: (1) metrics for solar workforce, deployment, costs, and associated studies capturing aspects such as demographics and regional distribution, (2) solar workforce wellbeing, including employee contracting mechanisms, compensation, occupational safety and health, and community impacts, (3) national and state policies most relevant to the U.S. solar workforce, and (4) ongoing efforts to expand solar workforce participation, including local staffing dynamics, challenges, and relevant strategies.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

2023 Sandia Day at UT Austin

On Wednesday, March 8 th and Thursday, March 9 th , 2023, the University of Texas at Austin hosted Sandia National Laboratories (Sandia) for “Sandia Day 2023 at UT Austin” with the intention of reviewing, planning and shaping ongoing and future collaborations in key areas that reflect each organization’s priorities and strengths. The event brought together nearly 100 UT and Sandia participants including executive leadership, researchers, faculty, staff, and students. The primary sessions of Sandia Day consisted of a half-day tour of select J.J. Pickle Research Campus facilities, a networking happy hour, leadership meetings, presentations by both Sandia and UT Austin representatives in areas of research strategic priorities: Grid Resiliency, Examining Climate Change, and Microelectronics, and a research poster session with lunch. The group also discussed growth opportunities in the following research areas: nuclear and radiation engineering, pulsed power and fusion physics, and digital engineering, specifically as it related to materials discovery and advanced manufacturing. Appendix A contains the full Sandia Day agenda.

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗

A review of NEST models for liquid xenon and an exhaustive comparison with other approaches

This paper discusses the microphysical simulation of interactions in liquid xenon, the active detector medium in many leading rare-event searches for new physics, and describes experimental observables useful for understanding detector performance. The scintillation and ionization yield distributions for signal and background are presented using the Noble Element Simulation Technique (NEST), a toolkit based on experimental data and simple empirical formulas, which mimic previous microphysics modeling but are guided by data. The NEST models for light and charge production as a function of the particle type, energy, and electric field are reviewed, along with models for energy resolution and final pulse areas. NEST is compared with other models or sets of models and validated against real data, with several specific examples drawn from XENON, ZEPLIN, LUX, LZ, PandaX, and table-top experiments used for calibrations.

WIMPs↗

Shuttle operations, maintenance, and safety.

Review of a systematic search for practical solutions in the areas of space shuttle cryogenics, flight operations, ground operations, and safety. The insulation of the main-propulsion hydrogen tanks for both booster and orbiter to prevent water condensation is considered, as well as the insulation of the orbiter's orbital cryogen tanks for ground storage. Two approaches to the feeding of cryogens are outlined - namely, an approach depending on a periodic axial force to settle propellants and refill the basket, and a method of continuous feed through a capillary network adjacent to the walls throughout the tank, the latter method being independent of vehicle thrust. The development of reliable cryogen components is discussed, and the results of studies of launch-abort problems, shuttle approach and landing techniques, and the tolerance of ?deconditioned' crew and passengers to shuttle reentry g-loads are cited.

Beddingfield, S. T.↗

Analysis of state of vehicular scars on Arctic Tundra, Alaska

Identification on ERTS images of severe vehicular scars in the northern Alaska tundra suggests that, if such scars are of an intensity or have spread to a dimension such that they can be resolved by ERTS sensors (20 meters), they can be identified and their state monitored by the use of ERTS images. Field review of the state of vehicular scars in the Umiat area indicates that all are revegetating at varying rates and are approaching a stable state.

Lathram, E. H.↗

The 1973 GSFC Battery Workshop, first day

A review of current battery technology is presented. The following major areas are discussed: (1) seals; (2) separators; (3) storage experience; and (4) manufacturing.

Source record↗

Recent developments in NASA's Supersonic Cruise Aircraft Research /SCAR/ Program

The paper reviews the SCAR program with emphasis on research in the areas of propulsion system, structures and materials, aerodynamic performance, stratospheric emissions, and stability and controls. Specific results relate to multicycle engine progress, coannular jet noise relief, blended wing-body configuration progress, powered-lift progress, and progress in structural design methodology.

Mascitti, V. R.↗

The magnetosphere

The terrestrial magnetic field shields the earth from the supersonic wind of the expanding solar atmosphere, forming a cavity called the magnetosphere. Since the velocity of the solar wind is supersonic, a detached shock wave stands in front of this cavity. The flow past the cavity is viscous, drawing the field lines back into a long tail. In this paper we review briefly the nature of the magnetosphere, the outstanding problem areas in this field, and what space missions are needed to attack these problems.

Russell, C. T.↗

Ionospheric aerodynamics and space simulation studies utilizing the Shuttle/Spacelab platform

A new philosophy for the second generation of in situ experiments in the area of plasma flows over bodies is discussed. A brief review of the present state of the theory and terrestrial laboratory and in situ studies is given, which points toward the need for further in situ investigations which utilize independently maneuverable test bodies and diagnostic instrument packages on board the Shuttle/Spacelab. The possibility of utilizing the Space Shuttle/Spacelab in the broader context of a general in situ plasma laboratory is considered, as well as the possibility of addressing questions of geo/astrophysical interest if the principle of qualitative scaling is used in conjunction with such a facility.

Samir, U.↗

The clouds of Mars as seen by Viking

A large variety of Martian clouds have been observed by the Viking Orbiters; localized regions of Mars were heavily clouded during particular seasons, and larger areas were obscured by hazes for long periods. This paper reviews Martian cloud data and presents cloud photographs. Consideration is given to polar hazes and hoods, local and global dust storms, and condensate clouds.

James, P. B.↗