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All sources NASA NTRS DOE OSTI

DOE OSTI2022

RADiCAL—Precision Timing, Ultracompact, Radiation-Hard Electromagnetic Calorimetry

To address the challenges of providing high-performance calorimetry in future hadron collider experiments under conditions of high luminosity and high radiation (FCC-hh environments), we conducted R&D on advanced calorimetry techniques suitable for such operation, based on scintillation and wavelength-shifting technologies and photosensor (SiPM and SiPM-like) technology. In particular, we focused our attention on ultra-compact radiation-hard EM calorimeters based on modular structures (RADiCAL modules) consisting of alternating layers of the very dense absorber and scintillating plates, read out via radiation hard wavelength shifting (WLS) solid fiber or capillary elements to photosensors positioned either proximately or remotely, depending upon their radiation tolerance. RADiCAL modules provide the capability to measure simultaneously and with high precision the position, energy and timing of EM showers. This paper provides an overview of the instrumentation and photosensor R&D associated with the RADiCAL program.

Anderson, Thomas↗

DOE OSTI2025

Testing Capabilities for Superconducting Magnets at Fermilab

This presentation will focus on the current testing capabilities for superconducting magnets at Fermilab, highlighting existing systems, recent upgrades, and future plans. The Vertical Magnet Test Facility (VMTF) remains a cornerstone for testing superconducting magnets in R&D applications, maintaining its established capabilities. Stand 4 continues to support the Hi-Lumi AUP production line of magnets in cryostats and has achieved significant improvements through a redesign of lead connections, resolving issues with liquid helium levels and resistance, culminating in a successful endurance test without interruption. Similarly, Stand 7 underwent commissioning and a lead redesign to reduce heat load, while its core testing capabilities remain unchanged. Looking forward, Stand 3 is undergoing a redesign, with plans to restart and begin commissioning by the end of 2025, introducing new features such as background magnetic field testing and upgraded power supplies. Fermilab is also advancing the High Field Vertical Magnet Test Facility (HFVMTF), designed to support the fusion and magnet R&D program, with commissioning scheduled for 2025 and critical components, including the cryostat and power supplies, being delivered. Enhancing all operations, the newly commissioned IB1 cryoplant now offers automated overnight helium production and efficient transfer to a 10,000-liter dewar, streamlining support across all test stands. This talk will provide a comprehensive overview of testing capabilities, and showcasing how Fermilab is advancing its capabilities to meet the evolving demands of superconducting magnet testing.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

DOE OSTI2022

Integrated Risk-Informed Condition Based Maintenance Capability and Automated Platform: Technical Report 3

This project is a collaborative research effort between PKMJ Technical Services LLC, Idaho National Laboratory, and Public Service Enterprise Group (PSEG) Nuclear, LLC. The collaboration, led by PKMJ Technical Services LLC, is part of the industry Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) award under Advanced Nuclear Technology Development FOA #DE-FOA-0001817. The pilot demonstration focuses on the Circulating Water System (CWS), an important non-safety-related system that impacts the power generation capability of the plant site. Achieving riskinformed condition-based Predictive Maintenance (PdM) on the CWS will result in significant economic benefits, and the developed methodologies can also be applied to other plant systems. This approach supports an industry goal of ensuring that nuclear power generation remains a viable, economically competitive option in the energy market. Operation and Maintenance (O&M) costs include labor-intensive Preventive Maintenance (PM) programs that involve manually performed inspection, calibration, testing, and maintenance of plant assets at periodic frequencies as well as time-based replacement of assets, irrespective of condition. This project offers an alternative by focusing on riskinformed condition-based maintenance to reduce O&M costs while still maintaining plant health and safety. This report summarizes the progress made toward achieving a risk-informed condition-based maintenance approach. The research and development (R&D) activities presented in this report are associated with development of a nuclear digital platform application, integration of fault signature models, and automated work management processes. The fault signatures and Machine Learning (ML) models are key components in predictive analytics and are heavily leveraged to improve the insights received by existing plant process data sources. Availability of the analysis results within a centralized digital platform enhances efficiency by enabling automation of activities otherwise performed manually. Personnel are presented with enhanced information that can be used to evaluate plant status and risks. Utilizing the enhancements to data analytics supports automated responses, (i.e. issuance of work orders) to address developing equipment faults and thus preventing forced, unplanned shutdowns of components or systems. The R&D activities described within this report lay the foundation for developing and demonstrating a digital automated platform to centralize the implementation of condition monitoring and response to equipment faults. The digital automated platform is cloud-based and designed to enable improved efficiency of plant processes. The digital platform includes content related to maintenance optimization, fault signature analysis, and plant records, which can all be used to support efficiencies when located within a centralized digital platform. These efficiencies could be further enhanced when deployed through industry-wide deployment of the technology to improve insights and processes based upon economies of scale.

46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND ↗

DOE OSTI2022

Materials research and development needs to enable efficient and electrified buildings

Because of the complexity of modern buildings—with many interconnected materials, components, and systems—fully electrifying buildings will require targeted R&D and efficient coordination across those material, component, and system levels. Because buildings that consume the smallest amount of energy are easier to electrify, energy efficiency is a crucial step toward fully electrified buildings. Materials advances will play an important role in both reducing the energy intensity of buildings and electrifying their remaining energy use. Materials are currently being explored, discovered, synthesized, evaluated, optimized, and implemented across many building components, including solid-state lighting; dynamic windows and opaque envelopes; cold climate heat pumps; thermal energy storage; heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC); refrigeration; non-vapor compression HVAC; and more. In this article, we review the current state-of-the-art of materials for various buildings end uses and discuss R&D challenges and opportunities for both efficiency and electrification.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

DOE OSTI2026

LArCADe | Liquid Argon Charge Amplification Devices

The Liquid Argon Charge Amplification Devices (LArCADe) project is an R$\&$D effort aimed at developing instrumentation capable of lowering detection thresholds for ionization signatures in liquid and gaseous argon detectors and achieving O(100 $\mu$m) position resolution. The core concept is the use of sharp “tip arrays” that generate strong local electric-field enhancement, enabling charge amplification and collection with improved spatial resolution. A key physics motivation for this work is to enhance the experimental sensitivity of Coherent Elastic Neutrino-Nucleus Scattering (CEvNS) measurements to low-energy nuclear recoils by enabling spatially resolved charge reconstruction at reduced ionization thresholds, with the goal of achieving event-by-event energy reconstruction for interactions originating from localized accelerator or astrophysical neutrino sources. This poster will present the current status of the instrumentation R$\&$D, which leverages Fermilab’s Noble Liquid Test Facility and UC Santa Barbara’s Nanofabrication Facility, and will discuss the potential physics impact of this technology.

Antonakis, Alexander [UC, Santa Barbara]↗

DOE OSTI2023

Development of Nanocomposite Coatings for Future Large-Scale Time Projection Chambers

In the context of this award we tested the performance of thin high-resistivity coatings for their potential usage as field shaping systems in future large scale xenon Time Projection Chambers (TPC). A successful implementation of such thin coatings would likely simplify the design of potential future detectors, allowing to overcome some of the challenges observed with traditional systems constituted by massive discrete electrodes. We studied a wide range of materials and characterized their optical and electrical performances as functions of temperature and wavelength. The measurement campaign indicated that uniform coatings covering the full PTFE substrate (usually used as reflector in LXe TPCs) impact too severely on the light collection performance of such detectors when used with deep UV light. Despite tuning the composition and thicknesses of nanocomposite coatings, we were not able to identify a single coating, properly working at LXe temperature, that would simultaneously fulfill the resistance and optical requirements. Following the risk mitigation strategy identified in the proposal we moved the focus of the R&D to identify proper materials that, when coated with grid-like patterns on PTFE, would not alter meaningfully its optical properties (with respect to bare PTFE panels) but would still serve as effective field shaping systems, properly containing the drift field in TPC detectors. Among the various materials we identified germanium as the most promising one, providing a good adhesion to PTFE and the proper range of sheet resistivity. The Ge-patterned coating tested within a small scale LXe TPC showed good performance as a field shape system and, as desired, did not reduce the detector light yield. These results are encouraging and such technology should further be investigated as a potential alternative to more traditional field shaping electrodes. Incidentally, in the context of this R&D, we stumbled upon an unexpected behavior suggesting that some of the treatments performed on the PTFE panels, in preparation of the coatings, meaningfully boosted the PTFE reflectivity. The most probable candidate is the O2 plasma cleaning procedure. This hypothesis will be tested in the near future by operating the small scale TPC at UChicago first with regular PTFE panels and then with panels bombarded with O2 plasma (but no coatings). This finding, if confirmed, might open up the possibility of further boosting UV light collection in future large detectors by performing such a treatment on the PTFE surfaces.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

NASA NTRS2005

Development of a Work Control System for Propulsion Testing at NASA Stennis

In 1996 Stennis Space Center was given management authority for all Propulsion Testing for NASA. Over the next few years several research and development (R&D) test facilities were completed and brought up to full operation in what is known as the E-Complex Test Facility at Stennis Space Center. To construct, activate and operate these test facilities, a manual paper-based work control system was created. After utilizing this paper-based work control system for approximately three years, it became apparent that the research and development test area needed a better method to execute, monitor, and report on tasks required to further propulsion testing. The paper based system did not provide the engineers adequate visibility into work tasks or the tracking of testing or hardware discrepancies. This system also restricted the engineer s ability to utilize and access past knowledge and experiences given the severe schedule limitations for most R&D propulsion testing projects. Therefore a system was developed to meet the growing need of Test Operations called the Propulsion Test Directorate (PTD) Work Control System. This system is used to plan, perform, and track tasks that support testing and also to capture lessons learned while doing so.

Messer, Elizabeth A.↗

DOE OSTI2023

Wood Heater Design Challenge Workshop Report

To support the United States Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office’s (BETO) goal of advancing residential wood heating technologies, Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), and the Alliance for Green Heat (AGH) hosted the fifth Wood Heater Design Challenge (WHDC). The Challenge consists of three virtual workshops and a Technology Slam aimed at inspiring and advancing the next generation of residential wood heaters. With an estimated 12.5 million homes in the United States using wood or pellets for space heating, this challenge stands to create a significant impact on the environmental footprint of domestic heating. This report provides a summary of the activities and outcomes from the three virtual workshops held in January, March, and April of 2022. The goal of the workshops was to bring together stakeholders from across the world to discuss research and development (R&D) challenges and opportunities for advancing residential wood heaters in the United States. The workshops focused on three topics: 1. Advances in wood heater design and technology; 2. Advances in instrumentation used for wood heater testing and field data collection; and 3. Adoption of new wood heater technology and integration with other renewables. Each workshop had more than 100 participants each day which included wood heater manufacturers, researchers, academics, government agencies, and policy makers. Overall, a clear message was presented that collaborative input from experts at air quality agencies, industry, academic institutions, and non-profits is necessary to ensure that wood heating technology continues as a mainstream renewable energy option in our changing energy landscape and to facilitate innovative technology solutions. Participants also provided insights and recommendations that may help guide future R&D investments.

09 BIOMASS FUELS↗

DOE OSTI2026

Blueprint for DOE Quantum Supercomputing: Ensuring U.S. Leadership in the Quantum Decade

Quantum computing stands at the threshold of a transformative decade, where the field will evolve from small-scale demonstrations toward practical scientific computing at scale. This Blueprint identifies fault-tolerant quantum computers (FTQCs) as a viable, scalable, and broadly applicable path to achieving “quantum scientific utility,” defined as solving scientifically valuable problems beyond the reach of conventional, classical computers. This capability is expected to show scientific demonstrations in the late 2020s and to mature in the early-to-mid 2030s. This Blueprint outlines a strategy to prepare the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for FTQCs and their integration into the U.S. national scientific computing infrastructure. Its purpose is to identify the steps, milestones, and research directions necessary for DOE to enable initial deployment of FTQCs in 2028 as a scientific tool for the nation and mature this capability into the 2030s. DOE has a long history of supporting quantum information science and technology, contributing significantly to research advancements, training a quantum-ready workforce, and providing access to early small-scale quantum hardware. Given recent demonstrations of logical operations on error-corrected logical qubits and the advancement of commercial hardware roadmaps, DOE should begin preparations for large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computing deployment for DOE science missions. This Blueprint proposes that DOE focus on (1) deploying first-generation scientifically relevant quantum computers with at least 100 logical qubits and performing at least 10,000 to 100,000 hard logical operations in scientifically relevant calculations; (2) developing essential FTQC programming competencies, system software, and facility readiness; and (3) investing in cutting edge focused R&D that fosters breakthroughs in scientific applications, algorithms, and logical architectures needed to accelerate the advent of scientific utility. This effort will position DOE to transition to larger systems: production-scale quantum computers that comprise 1,000 to 10,000 logical qubits, perform 1 to 10 billion hard logical operations, and execute scientifically useful computations at scale. Achieving these goals will require DOE facilities to evolve with urgency to support scientific campaigns that integrate quantum and classical computing resources into efficient workflows, novel software and firmware environments for compiling and routing quantum programs on FTQC machines, and suitable infrastructure for quantum hardware. It will also require further development and optimization of scientific applications from the fields of materials science, quantum chemistry, and high-energy and nuclear physics. The Blueprint calls for transformative R&D and collective action to accelerate the advent of scientific quantum utility and bring it within reach by 2028.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

DOE OSTI2020

Semi-analytic model of magnetized liner inertial fusion

The code that was developed is called SAMM (Semi-Analytic MagLIF Model). In 2015, McBride and Slutz published all of the equations that are solved by the code in the original SAMM paper: R. D. McBride and S. A. Slutz, ?A semi-analytic model of magnetized liner inertial fusion?, Phys. Plasmas 22, 052708 (2015); http://doi.org/10.1063/1.4918953. The SAMM code is now implemented in both the MATLAB and Python programming languages. Students from multiple universities have requested copies of the code so that they can become more familiar with the MagLIF concept. We would like to seek an open-source solution. There is no market value to this code, as there are plenty of more sophisticated simulation codes already available; SAMM is merely a simplified model that is purely for educational purposes. In fact, at least one graduate student (from the University of California, San Diego) has already implemented and published his own modified version of the model: J. Narkis, H. U. Rahman, J. C. Valenzuela, F. Conti, R. D. McBride, D. Venosa, and F. N. Beg, ?A semi-analytic model of gas-puff liner-on-target magneto-inertial fusion?, Phys. Plasmas 26, 032708 (2019); https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5086056. SAND2020-12244 M Sandia National Laboratories is a multimission laboratory managed and operated by National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Honeywell International Inc., for the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration under contract DE-NA0003525.

Moore, Thomas↗

DOE OSTI2023

Status on Development of Graphite Analytical Tool (GAT)

The DOE-ART Graphite R&D program has been generating significant amounts of irradiated and unirradiated graphite data since 2006 when the program was part of the DOE NGNP (Next Generation Nuclear Plant) Project. This data includes critical irradiation creep and irradiated material property changes from the Advanced Graphite Creep (AGR) experiment as well as significant amounts of data on unirradiated material property values on several current nuclear graphite grades (Baseline program). Previously, Idaho National Laboratory has developed an internal analysis tool to assist with analysis of the unirradiated and irradiated data. The Graphite Analytical Tool (GAT) is intended to provide easy access to the graphite data in the form of comparing unirradiated and irradiated material property changes, comparison of material property differences between various nuclear graphite grades, and illustrate trends within the irradiated and unirradiated data generated within the DOE-ART Graphite R&D program. This report summarizes the progress to-date on the development of this analytical tool.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

DOE OSTI2020

Demonstration of Integrated PostIrradiation Process Steps forMultikilogram Amounts of Low- and High-Burnup Used Nuclear Fuels

sponsored research and development (R&D) on the advanced, closed nuclear fuel cycle, including post-irradiation processing of used fuels, recovery of separated components, and preparation of recycle nuclear fuels. During the period 2007–2010, kilogram-scale demonstrations of the integrated processing steps were performed for actual light water reactor (LWR) used nuclear fuels (UNF). These integrated processing demonstrations were called “the Coupled-End-to-End” (CETE) campaigns and were associated with the Global Nuclear Energy Partnership program, which ran concurrently. The demonstrations were carried out in the shielded hot cells and associated gloveboxes located in the Irradiated Fuels Examination Laboratory (IFEL) and the Radiochemical Engineering Development Center (REDC) at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). Limited circulation program reports and a few technical papers were issued. The subject document provides a comprehensive summary of results, technical comparisons, and conclusions obtained from the demonstration campaigns and subsequent associated R&D.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

DOE OSTI2024

NREL Marine Energy Desalination Research and Development Portfolio: Preprint

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO), has developed a unique R&D approach to advance marine energy desalination. Desalination is a foundational investment within WPTO's Powering the Blue Economy portfolio, and was the first investment within this portfolio. NREL's marine energy desalination spans techno-economic feasibility studies, numerical modeling, and laboratory testing at the component and subsystem level, as well as development of the Hydraulic and Electric Reverse Osmosis Wave Energy Converter (HERO WEC). This multilayered approach enables an innovative feedback loop where the data and lessons learned from laboratory and field experiments are used to refine modeling tools and analysis techniques, prioritize out-year activities, and refine strategic directions within NREL and across the WPTO portfolio. The primary objective of the NREL-led research is to identify key barriers associated with the commercialization of wave-powered desalination and develop solutions that can be adopted by the marine energy industry. In parallel, these R&D activities can help inform technical assistance and support of industry and academic technologies. These two tracks help build a common solver community approach, while also identifying key stakeholders, government agencies, and other organizations outside of the marine sector that will be necessary for developing a robust industry. For the Spanish version of this report, see NREL/CP-5700-88483 (https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy24osti/88483.pdf).

analysis↗

DOE OSTI2024

Cartera de Investigacion y Desarrollo Sobre Desalinizacion de Energia Marina del NREL: Preprint (Spanish Translation)

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO), has developed a unique R&D approach to advance marine energy desalination. Desalination is a foundational investment within WPTO's Powering the Blue EconomyTM portfolio [1], and was the first investment within this portfolio. NREL's marine energy desalination spans techno-economic feasibility studies, numerical modeling, and laboratory testing at the component and subsystem level, as well as development of the Hydraulic and Electric Reverse Osmosis Wave Energy Converter (HERO WEC). This multilayered approach enables an innovative feedback loop where the data and lessons learned from laboratory and field experiments are used to refine modeling tools and analysis techniques, prioritize out-year activities, and refine strategic directions within NREL and across the WPTO portfolio. The primary objective of the NREL-led research is to identify key barriers associated with the commercialization of wave-powered desalination and develop solutions that can be adopted by the marine energy industry. In parallel, these R&D activities can help inform technical assistance and support of industry and academic technologies. These two tracks help build a common solver community approach, while also identifying key stakeholders, government agencies, and other organizations outside of the marine sector that will be necessary for developing a robust industry. For the English version of this report, see NREL/CP-5700-86724 (https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy24osti/86724.pdf).

analysis↗

DOE OSTI2023

Loss of Coolant High Burnup (LOC-HBu) Program

LOC-HBu is a joint experimental program (JEEP) operating within the Nuclear Energy Agency’s (NEA’s) framework for irradiation experiments II (FIDES-II). LOC-HBu is dedicated to the understanding of light water reactor (LWR) fuel performance at high burnup under loss of coolant accident (LOCA) conditions. LOC-HBu aims to support burnup extension needs by addressing identified R&D priorities to achieve an improved understanding of fuel fragmentation, relocation, and dispersal (FFRD) of HBu fuel during LOCA events. The need for such experiments was identified in the United States by the Fuel Performance Testing Technical Expert Group (FPTTEG) under the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)’s Collaborative Research on Advanced Fuel Technologies (CRAFT) framework. A combined in-pile and furnace testing program plan was developed by researchers at Idaho National Laboratory (INL) and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) which was reviewed and approved by the FPTTEG Combined TREAT-LOC and SATS LOCA Experiment Plan. The first 4 tests identified in this plan are being put forward by the U.S. Department of Energy (U.S. DOE) and INL for inclusion in the FIDES-II second triannual work period. The data produced under this plan will be used to further validate and confirm existing models and inform future R&D and model development. The experimental program was specifically developed to address data gaps and opportunities identified via detailed review of the existing public knowledge base on LOCA FFRD, as well as reviewing specific experimental development activities regarding prototypic LOCA conditions for light-water reactor (LWR) systems. The program will systematically investigate the impacts of prototypic HBu fuel/cladding thermomechanical behaviors under postulated LWR LOCA conditions not yet fully investigated. These conditions correspond with prototypic decay-energy heatup (DEH) and stored-energy heatup (SEH) conditions.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

DOE OSTI2021

Hydrogen Compatible Materials Workshop

This report serves as the proceedings of the Hydrogen Compatible Materials Workshop held virtually by Sandia National Laboratories on December 2-3, 2020. The purpose of the workshop was to assemble subject matter experts at Sandia and its national laboratory partners within the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Hydrogen Materials Compatibility (H-Mat) Consortium with public and private stakeholders in the research, development and deployment of hydrogen technologies to discuss the topic of hydrogen compatible materials. This workshop was designed to build on past events and current research and development (R&D) efforts to develop a forward-looking vision that identifies gaps and challenges for the next decade. In particular, the workshop organizers sought to expand their understanding of hydrogen compatible materials needs for power, manufacturing and other industrial uses to enable deeper impact and widespread use of hydrogen while continuing to address open questions in hydrogen-powered transportation of concern to Original Equipment Manufacturers, hydrogen producers, materials & component suppliers and other private entities. The workshop was primarily organized as a series of panel-led discussions on the topics of hydrogen-enabled transportation, heating and power, and industrial uses. Each panel consisted of 2-3 subject matter experts who relayed their perspectives on a set of framing questions developed to facilitate discussion by the broader group of workshop participants. By the workshop's conclusion, the participants identified and prioritized a list of technical challenges for each panel topic where further R&D is warranted.

08 HYDROGEN↗

DOE OSTI2021

Exploring Novel Technologies for Particle Tracking in Gas TPCs (Final Technical Report)

This report provides the final results from R&D on a novel 2D readout for a time projection chamber (TPC), which operates with negative-ion drift. The readout consists of two gas electron multiplier (GEM) devices places at an angle with respect to each other. The 2D range of particles interacting in the TPC is reconstructed using pulse-shape timing only. Due to the low diffusion and drift speeds of the negative-ions carrying the track information to the anode, the track resolution is <200 microns. Acquiring this level of resolution for short, low energy particle tracks in a standard TPC would require a fine granularity strip or pixel readout with many 1000s of electronic channels. With this novel readout, only two channels are needed. Our results showed that the concept is fundamentally sound. We found a number of issues related to how well the timing signals are determined from the pulse waveforms. Solutions for these had to be left for future R&D.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

DOE OSTI2024

Laboratory Directed Research and Development Program: FY 2023 Completed Projects Report

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is the US Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) largest multiprogram science, technology, and energy laboratory. It possesses distinctive capabilities in a variety of fields, such as neutron science, computing, advanced materials, and nuclear science and technology. Using these capabilities, ORNL conducts basic and applied research and development (R&D) to support DOE’s overarching mission “to ensure America’s security and prosperity by addressing its energy, environmental and nuclear challenges through transformative science and technology solutions.” As a national resource, ORNL also applies its capabilities and skills to the specific needs of other federal agencies and customers through the DOE Strategic Partnership Projects (SPP) Program. Information about the laboratory and its programs is available on the ORNL website. The Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program at ORNL operates under the authority of the DOE Order 413.2C, Laboratory Directed Research and Development, which establishes DOE’s requirements for the program while providing the laboratory director broad flexibility for program implementation. The LDRD Program funds are obtained through a charge to all laboratory programs. Although it represents a relatively small portion of the overall research budget, the LDRD Program plays an essential role in maintaining the laboratory’s ability to respond to national needs. The program allows ORNL to improve its distinctive capabilities and to enhance its ability to conduct cutting-edge R&D. This report provides an overview of the LDRD Program at ORNL in FY 2023 and contains summaries of all the LDRD research projects that concluded between October 1, 2022, and September 30, 2023.

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗