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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 829 records · Page 46
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2020

Net energy gain in direct laser acceleration due to enhanced dephasing induced by an applied magnetic field

Even in the situation where an electron interacts with a single plane wave, the well-known dynamical adiabaticity can be broken when an applied magnetic field is present, which will act to increase the dephasing rate of the electron during the interaction. Here we demonstrate this for the case where there is a uniform static magnetic field which is oriented either parallel or perpendicular to the electric field of the incident plane wave, and perpendicular to the direction of its propagation. The described energy gain phenomenon has direct relevance to laser-plasma interactions that involve external magnetic fields generated by laser-driven capacitor coils.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Combining translational and rotational seismic motions to invert local-scale seismic data for time-variable moment tensors: do rotational motions help for high-frequency seismic data produced by underground explosions?

SUMMARY We present an analysis of combining translational and rotational seismic data in an inversion for the time-variable source time functions corresponding to the components of the seismic moment tensor. We conduct a series of numerical experiments where the data are simulated by a combination of an underground explosion and a co-located double couple shear source and recorded on surface-mounted seismometers within 1–2 km of the source. The experiments are designed to mimic explosion seismology experiments, and thus the data are in the 1–10 Hz frequency range and contain very few surface waves. We use a Monte Carlo method to propagate Earth model uncertainty into the estimates of seismic source parameters. In our experiments, we find that the uncertainty of the estimated seismic source parameters increases when we add rotational seismic motions to the inversion when using a constant number of data channels. In this case, the increased degree of uncertainty in the final results is most likely due to the near-surface Earth model uncertainty that we introduce in our simulations. However, for a fixed number of seismic stations, adding rotational seismic motions to the inversion acts to decrease the uncertainty of the estimated seismic source parameters, most likely due to the increase in the number of data channels used in the inversion.

Poppeliers, Christian (ORCID:0000000159526849)↗
DOE OSTI2020

Bayesian analysis of the Zn 70 ( d , He 3 ) Cu 69 transfer reaction

Transfer reactions provide information about the single-particle nature of nuclear levels. In particular, the differential cross sections from these measurements are sensitive to the angular momentum of the transferred particle and the spectroscopic factor of the populated level. However, the process of extracting these properties is subject to uncertainties, both from experimental and theoretical sources. By integrating the distorted wave Born approximation into a Bayesian model, we propagate these uncertainties through to the spectroscopic factors and orbital angular momentum values. We use previously reported data of the proton pickup reaction Zn 70 ( d , He 3 ) Cu 69 as an example. By accounting for uncertainties in the experimental data, optical model parameters, and reaction mechanism, we find that the extracted spectroscopic factors for low-lying states of 69 Cu are subject to large, asymmetric uncertainties ranging from 35 to 108%. Additionally, Bayesian model comparison is employed to assign probabilities to each of the allowed angular momentum transfers. This method confirms the assignments for many states, but suggests that the data for a state lying at 3.70 MeV are better characterized by an ℓ =3 transfer, rather than the previously reported ℓ =2 .

73 NUCLEAR PHYSICS AND RADIATION PHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Second harmonic Bessel-Gauss beam shaping with elliptic axicon aberrations

The second harmonic (SH) of an axicon generated Bessel-Gauss beam is created through the nonlinear interaction of photons with a crystal, resulting in the energy doubling of the output photons. In this work, we show experimentally that in addition to frequency doubling, the SH of Bessel-Gauss beams under asymmetric aberrations from an elliptic axicon exhibit intriguing beam formation. Particularly, the central region of the SH beam profile is composed of two central spots of various geometries surrounded by nested ellipses; one of which is the configuration of two central gamma dots with similar radius knotted by nested ellipses for a zeroth-order Bessel-Gauss pump. These SH beams consistently maintain their spatial profile throughout propagation, reminiscing the behavior of screw dislocations in wave patterns. Our numerical simulations produce beam dynamics consistent with that of experiments and further implicate the remarkable interweaving of bright spots with dark vortices. This is especially noticeable when the beams dynamically oscillate along the optical axis, resulting in the genesis of spatially polarized beams with a knotted framework. The insights gained from our study establish a novel paradigm for exploring interactions of Bessel-like beams with vortex dynamics. This, in turn, has the potential to spark innovations in optical applications, fostering new methodologies to harness and manipulate complex light structures. Our experimental findings could spur new methods of generating logical states of light and new opportunities for material processing control. Published by the American Physical Society 2025

Wang, Tianhong (ORCID:0000000169104201)↗
DOE OSTI2024

Fast and converged classical simulations of evidence for the utility of quantum computing before fault tolerance

A recent quantum simulation of observables of the kicked Ising model on 127 qubits implemented circuits that exceed the capabilities of exact classical simulation. We show that several approximate classical methods, based on sparse Pauli dynamics and tensor network algorithms, can simulate these observables orders of magnitude faster than the quantum experiment and can also be systematically converged beyond the experimental accuracy. Our most accurate technique combines a mixed Schrödinger and Heisenberg tensor network representation with the Bethe free entropy relation of belief propagation to compute expectation values with an effective wave function–operator sandwich bond dimension >16,000,000, achieving an absolute accuracy, without extrapolation, in the observables of <0.01, which is converged for many practical purposes. We thereby identify inaccuracies in the experimental extrapolations and suggest how future experiments can be implemented to increase the classical hardness.

Science & Technology - Other Topics↗
DOE OSTI2021

Quasicrystalline structures and uses thereof

This invention relates generally to the field of quasicrystalline structures. In preferred embodiments, the stopgap structure is more spherically symmetric than periodic structures facilitating the formation of stopgaps in nearly all directions because of higher rotational symmetries. More particularly, the invention relates to the use of quasicrystalline structures for optical, mechanical, electrical and magnetic purposes. In some embodiments, the invention relates to manipulating, controlling, modulating and directing waves including electromagnetic, sound, spin, and surface waves, for pre-selected range of wavelengths propagating in multiple directions.

Steinhardt, Paul Joseph↗
DOE OSTI2023

Quasicrystalline structures and uses thereof

This invention relates generally to the field of quasicrystalline strictures. In preferred embodiments, the stopgap structure is more spherically symmetric than periodic structures facilitating the formation of stopgaps in nearly all directions because of higher rotational symmetries. More particularly, the invention relates to the use of quasicrystalline structures for optical, mechanical, electrical and magnetic purposes. In some embodiments, the invention relates to manipulating, controlling, modulating and directing waves including electromagnetic, sound, spin, and surface waves, for pre-selected range of wavelengths propagating in multiple directions.

Steinhardt, Paul Joseph↗
DOE OSTI2025

Arbitrary-velocity laser pulses in plasma waveguides

Space-time structured laser pulses feature an intensity peak that can travel at an arbitrary velocity while maintaining a near-constant profile. These pulses can propagate in uniform media, where their frequencies are correlated with continuous transverse wave vectors, or in structured media, such as a waveguide, where their frequencies are correlated with discrete mode numbers. Here, we demonstrate the formation and propagation of arbitrary-velocity laser pulses in a plasma waveguide where the intensity can be orders of magnitude higher than in a solid-state waveguide. The flexibility to control the velocity of the peak intensity in a plasma waveguide enables new configurations for plasma-based sources of radiation and energetic particles, including THz generation, laser wakefield acceleration, and direct laser acceleration.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2023

Total internal reflection enabled wide-field Coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering microscopy

A system is provided. The system has a femtosecond oscillator to generate pulses used for pump and probe beams. A photonic crystal fiber is disposed in a path of the probe beam and produces pulses for a chirped probe beam. A high NA objective receives the pump and the chirped probe beam, redirects the received beams through a dielectric substrate towards an interface between a sample and the dielectric substrate to cause total internal reflection (TIR) at the sample-substrate interface, and produces corresponding evanescent waves in a portion of the sample adjacent to the sample-substrate interface, and collects a backward-propagating beam of pulses of responsive light. The portion of the sample illuminated by the evanescent waves emits responsive light. The dielectric substrate is transparent to the responsive light, the pump and the chirped probe beam. An image is produced having a specific image size using the received backward-propagating beam.

Doughty, Benjamin L.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Atmospheric effects on the laser-driven avalanche-based remote detection of radiation

Here, the effect of realistic atmospheric conditions on mid-IR (λ = 3.9 µm) and long-wave-IR (λ = 10 µm) laser-induced avalanche breakdown for the remote detection of radioactive material is examined experimentally and with propagation simulations. Our short-range in-lab mid-IR laser experiments show a correlation between increasing turbulence level and a reduced number of breakdown sites associated with a reduction in the portion of the focal volume above the breakdown threshold. Simulations of propagation through turbulence are in excellent agreement with these measurements and provide code validation. We then simulate propagation through realistic atmospheric turbulence over a long range (0.1–1 km) in the long-wave-IR regime (λ = 10 µm). The avalanche threshold focal volume is found to be robust even in the presence of strong turbulence, only dropping by ~50% over a propagation length of ~0.6 km. We also experimentally assess the impact of aerosols on avalanche-based detection, finding that, while background counts increase, a useful signal is extractable even at aerosol concentrations 10 5 times greater than what is typically observed in atmospheric conditions. Our results show promise for the long-range detection of radioactive sources under realistic atmospheric conditions.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2023

How plane are plane shock waves in solids

The notion of plane shock waves is a macroscopic, very fruitful idealization of near discontinuous disturbance propagating at supersonic speed. Such a picture is comparable to the picture of shorelines seen from a very high altitude. When viewed at the grain scale where the structure of solids is inherently heterogeneous and stochastic, features of shock waves are non-laminar and field variables, such as particle velocity and pressure, fluctuate. This paper reviews select aspects of such fluctuating nonequilibrium features of plane shock waves in solids with focus on grain scale phenomena and raises the need for a paradigm change to achieve a deeper understanding of plane shock waves in solids.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2023

Multimodal nonlinear optical imaging via evanescent wave excitation

A system for multimodal nonlinear optical imaging is provided. Each mode uses a high NA objective to cause total internal reflection excitation at a sample-substrate interface. The system has a femtosecond oscillator to generate pulses used for two beams. The objective receives at least one beam, redirects the received at least one beam through a dielectric substrate to cause the TIR and produces corresponding evanescent waves in a portion of the sample adjacent to the sample-substrate interface, and collects a backward-propagating beam of pulses of responsive light. The portion of the sample illuminated by the evanescent waves emits responsive light. Different modes or combinations of the distinct modalities may be selected to access complementary chemical and structural information for various chemical species near the sample-substrate interface. Each mode may have mode-specific control such as selective beam blocking, power ratios and filtering.

Doughty, Benjamin L.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Sound Assisted Low Temperature Spalling: Upscaling and Throughput

In evaluating the state-of-the-art spalling techniques, the key factor that is missing is the control of crack propagation, which is responsible for low quality wafers due to high surface roughness and Total Thickness Variation, TTV. This project has shown that acoustic waves can alter the conditions at the crack tip during thermal spalling, modifying the propagation speed and the stress field around it (stress intensity factor, K). Both factors are directly related to the roughness of the spalled surface, so as we control speed and stress, we can fine-tune the surface roughness through the entire wafer as suggested by Arakawa.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2022

Spin-density-wave order controlled by uniaxial stress in CeAuSb 2

We report the tetragonal heavy-fermion compound CeAuSb 2 (space group P4/nmm ) exhibits incommensurate spin-density wave (SDW) order below T N ≈ 6.5 K with the propagation vector q A = (δ A , δ A , 1/2 ). The application of uniaxial stress along the [010] direction induces a sudden change in the resistivity ratio ρ a /ρ b at a compressive strain of ε ≈ - 0.5 %. Here we use neutron scattering to show that the uniaxial stress induces a first-order transition to a SDW state with a different propagation vector (0, δ B ,1/2) with δ B = 0.25.The magnetic structure of the new (B) phase consists of Ce layers with ordered moments alternating with layers with zero moment stacked along the c axis. The ordered layers have an up-up-down-down configuration along the b axis. This is an unusual situation in which the loss of spatial inversion in a metallic system is driven by the magnetic order. We argue that the change in SDW wave vector leads to Fermi-surface reconstruction and a concomitant change in the transport properties.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2024

Disorder and diffuse scattering in single-chirality (TaSe 4 ) 2 ⁢I crystals

The quasi-one-dimensional chiral compound (TaSe 4 ) 2 I has been extensively studied as a prime example of a topological Weyl semimetal. Upon crossing its phase transition temperature $T$ CDW ≈263K, (TaSe 4 ) 2 I exhibits incommensurate charge density wave (CDW) modulations described by the well-defined propagation vector ∼(0.05,0.05,0.11), oblique to the TaSe 4 chains. Although optical and transport properties greatly depend on chirality, there is no systematic report about chiral domain size for (TaSe 4 ) 2 I. In this study, our single-crystal scattering refinements reveal a bulk iodine deficiency, and Flack parameter measurements on multiple crystals demonstrate that separate (TaSe 4 ) 2 I crystals have uniform handedness, supported by direct imaging and helicity-dependent terahertz emission spectroscopy. Our single-crystal x-ray scattering and calculated diffraction patterns identify multiple diffuse features and create a real-space picture of the temperature-dependent (TaSe 4 ) 2 I crystal structure. Further, the short-range diffuse features are present at room temperature and decrease in intensity as the CDW modulation develops. These transverse displacements, along with electron pinning from the iodine deficiency, help explain why (TaSe 4 ) 2 I behaves as an electronic semiconductor at temperatures above and below $T$ CDW , despite a metallic band structure calculated from density functional theory of the ideal structure.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2025

Ultra-high Bandwidth, Ultra-high Dynamic Range X-Ray Shock Characterization via Photonic Integrated Circuit

Nuclear weapon component assessment tests at the Z Machine rely on accurate X-ray yield measurements for model validation, design and analysis of component survivability, and source optimization. Yield measurement devices currently used do not provide the requisite certainty to enable accurate and efficient data analysis of test results, which leads to an increase in Z-shots required for evaluation, longer device development times, and higher operation costs. Additionally, current X-ray flux detectors lack high temporal resolution at the tails. Similarly, shock measurement techniques used for component assessment often lack the ability to spatially resolve wave behavior thereby limiting the ability to measure shock propagation dynamics needed to design the next generation of ND components. Here we present the development of a photonic micro-calorimeter and shock sensor consisting of meter-long waveguide spirals that are optomechanically coupled to X-ray absorbing layers to characterize yield and shock propagation at nanosecond timescales.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2025

Spin dynamics in natural multiferroic pyroxene NaFeSi 2 ⁢O 6

Spin dynamics in the natural mineral aegirine, NaFeSi 2⁢ O 6 , a member of the pyroxene family, was studied by elastic and inelastic neutron scattering. Magnetization and specific-heat measurements as well as single-crystal neutron diffraction maps, taken in the temperature range 2–20 K, confirm two successive magnetic transitions at 8.8 and 5.8 K, consistent with previous studies. The observed spin-wave excitations emerge from the incommensurate magnetic Bragg peaks corresponding to the propagation vector 𝑘 ICM = (0,0.77,0), and extend up to energies of about 1.5 meV. In the low-temperature helical phase, the spin dynamics of the Fe3+ ions is well described by a simple linear spin-wave model. The observed excitations can be modeled using a spin Hamiltonian that includes three primary exchange interactions—intrachain coupling 𝐽 = 0.142⁢(2) ⁢meV, and interchain couplings 𝐽 1 = 0.083⁢(1) ⁢meV and 𝐽 2 = 0.186⁢(1) meV—and an easy-plane anisotropy 𝐷 = 0.020⁢(6)⁢ meV. Furthermore, our results show that no single exchange interaction dominates the spin dynamics. The similar strengths of the intrachain and interchain couplings point to the fact that the magnetic interactions in aegirine are three dimensional rather than confined along one direction. As a result, the system cannot be considered quasi one dimensional, as previously suggested, and calls for further investigations.

Magnetic coupling↗