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At least 865 records · Page 48

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DOE OSTI2015

Modulations of the plasma uniformity by low frequency sources in a large-area dual frequency inductively coupled plasma based on fluid simulations

As the wafer size increases, dual frequency (DF) inductively coupled plasma (ICP) sources have been proposed as an effective method to achieve large-area uniform plasma processing. A two-dimensional (2D) self-consistent fluid model, combined with an electromagnetic module, has been employed to investigate the influence of the low frequency (LF) source on the plasma radial uniformity in an argon DF discharge. When the DF antenna current is fixed at 10 A, the bulk plasma density decreases significantly with the LF due to the less efficient heating, and the best radial uniformity is obtained at 3.39 MHz. As the LF decreases to 2.26 MHz, the plasma density is characterized by an edge-high profile, and meanwhile the maximum of the electron temperature appears below the outer two-turn coil. Moreover, the axial ion flux at 3.39 MHz is rather uniform in the center region except at the radial edge of the substrate, where a higher ion flux is observed. When the inner five-turn coil frequency is fixed at 2.26 MHz, the plasma density profiles shift from edge-high over uniform to center-high as the LF coil current increases from 6 A to 18 A, and the best plasma uniformity is obtained at 14 A. In addition, the maximum of the electron temperature becomes lower with a second peak appears at the radial position of r = 9 cm at 18 A.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

NASA NTRS2013

Common Practice Lightning Strike Protection Characterization Technique to Quantify Damage Mechanisms on Composite Substrates

To support FAA certification airworthiness standards, composite substrates are subjected to lightning direct-effect electrical waveforms to determine performance characteristics of the lightning strike protection (LSP) conductive layers used to protect composite substrates. Test results collected from independent LSP studies are often incomparable due to variability in test procedures & applied practices at different organizations, which impairs performance correlations between different LSP data sets. Under a NASA supported contract, The Boeing Company developed technical procedures and documentation as guidance in order to facilitate a test method for conducting universal common practice lightning strike protection test procedures. The procedures obtain conformity in future lightning strike protection evaluations to allow meaningful performance correlations across data sets. This universal common practice guidance provides the manufacturing specifications to fabricate carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) test panels, including finish, grounding configuration, and acceptable methods for pretest nondestructive inspection (NDI) and posttest destructive inspection. The test operations guidance elaborates on the provisions contained in SAE ARP5416 to address inconsistencies in the generation of damage protection performance data, so as to provide for maximum achievable correlation across capable lab facilities. In addition, the guidance details a direct effects test bed design to aid in quantification of the multi-physical phenomena surrounding a lightning direct attachment supporting validation data requirements for the development of predictive computational modeling. The lightning test bed is designed to accommodate a repeatable installation procedure to secure the test panel and eliminate test installation uncertainty. It also facilitates a means to capture the electrical waveform parameters in 2 dimensions, along with the mechanical displacement and thermal heating parameters which occur during lightning attachment. Following guidance defined in the universal common practice LSP test documents, protected and unprotected CFRP panels were evaluated at 20, 40 and 100KAmps. This report presents analyzed data demonstrating the scientific usefulness of the common practice approach. Descriptions of the common practice CFRP test articles, LSP test bed fixture, and monitoring techniques to capture the electrical, mechanical and thermal parameters during lightning attachment are presented here. Two methods of measuring the electrical currents were evaluated, inductive current probes and a newly developed fiberoptic sensor. Two mechanical displacement methods were also examined, optical laser measurement sensors and a digital imaging correlation camera system. Recommendations are provided to help users implement the common practice test approach and obtain LSP test characterizations comparable across data sets.

Szatkowski, George N.↗

DOE OSTI2022

Superconducting detectors for rare event searches in experimental astroparticle physics

Superconducting detectors have become an important tool in experimental astroparticle physics, which seeks to provide a fundamental understanding of the Universe. In particular, such detectors have demonstrated excellent potential in two challenging research areas involving rare event search experiments, namely, the direct detection of dark matter (DM) and the search for neutrinoless double beta decay. Here, we review the superconducting detectors that have been and are planned to be used in these two categories of experiments. We first provide brief histories of the two research areas and outline their significance and challenges in astroparticle physics. Then, we present an extensive overview of various types of superconducting detectors with a focus on sensor technologies and detector physics, which are based on calorimetric measurements and heat flow in the detector components. Finally, we introduce leading experiments and discuss their future prospects for the detection of DM and the search for neutrinoless double beta decay employing superconducting detectors.

transition edge sensors↗

DOE OSTI2019

Experimental investigation of the relationship between thermal barrier coating structured porosity and homogeneous charge compression ignition engine combustion

Heat transfer has a monumental influence on homogeneous charge compression ignition combustion. When a thermal barrier coating is applied to the combustion chamber, the insulating effect magnifies the wall temperature swing, decreasing heat transfer during combustion. This enables improvements in both thermal and combustion efficiency without the detrimental impacts of intake charge heating. Increasing the temperature swing requires coatings with lower thermal conductivity and heat capacity. An enticing avenue for simultaneously decreasing both thermal conductivity and capacity is to increase the porosity fraction. A proprietary solution precursor plasma spray process enables discrete organization of the porosity structure, called inter-pass boundaries, which in turn produces a step-reduction in thermal conductivity for a given porosity level. In this investigation, yttria-stabilized zirconia is used to create four different thermal barrier coatings to study the potential of structured porosity as means of improving the “temperature swing” behavior in a homogeneous charge compression ignition engine. The baseline coating is “dense YSZ,” applied using a standard air-plasma spray process. Furthermore, significant reductions of the thermal conductivity are achieved by utilizing the solution precursor plasma spray process to create inter-pass boundaries with a moderate overall porosity. Performance, efficiency, and emissions are compared against both a baseline configuration with a metal piston and an air-plasma spray “dense YSZ” coating. Experiments are carried out in a single-cylinder gasoline homogeneous charge compression ignition engine with exhaust re-induction. Experiments indicate that incorporating structured porosity into thermal barrier coatings produces tangible gains in combustion and thermal efficiencies. However, there is an upper limit to porosity levels acceptable for homogeneous charge compression ignition engine application because an elevated porosity fraction leads to excessive surface roughness and undesirable fuel interactions. Comparison of the coatings showed the best results with coating thickness of up to 150 µm. Thicker coatings led to slower surface temperature response and attenuated swing temperature magnitude.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗

DOE OSTI2013

Transition of electron kinetics in weakly magnetized inductively coupled plasmas

Transition of the electron kinetics from nonlocal to local regime was studied in weakly magnetized solenoidal inductively coupled plasma from the measurement of the electron energy probability function (EEPF). Without DC magnetic field, the discharge property was governed by nonlocal electron kinetics at low gas pressure. The electron temperatures were almost same in radial position, and the EEPFs in total electron energy scale were radially coincided. However, when the DC magnetic field was applied, radial non-coincidence of the EEPFs in total electron energy scale was observed. The electrons were cooled at the discharge center where the electron heating is absent, while the electron temperature was rarely changed at the discharge boundary with the magnetic field. These changes show the transition from nonlocal to local electron kinetics and the transition is occurred when the electron gyration diameter was smaller than the skin depth. The nonlocal to local transition point almost coincided with the calculation results by using nonlocal parameter and collision parameter.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

DOE OSTI2014

High-resolution Tangential AXUV Arrays for Radiated Power Density Measurements on NSTX-U

Precise measurements of the local radiated power density and total radiated power are a matter of the uttermost importance for understanding the onset of impurity-induced instabilities and the study of particle and heat transport. Accounting of power balance is also needed for the understanding the physics of various divertor con gurations for present and future high-power fusion devices. Poloidal asymmetries in the impurity density can result from high Mach numbers and can impact the assessment of their flux-surface-average and hence vary the estimates of P[sub]rad (r, t) and (Z[sub]eff); the latter is used in the calculation of the neoclassical conductivity and the interpretation of non-inductive and inductive current fractions. To this end, the bolometric diagnostic in NSTX-U will be upgraded, enhancing the midplane coverage and radial resolution with two tangential views, and adding a new set of poloidally-viewing arrays to measure the 2D radiation distribution. These systems are designed to contribute to the near- and long-term highest priority research goals for NSTX-U which will integrate non-inductive operation at reduced collisionality, with high-pressure, long energy-confinement-times and a divertor solution with metal walls.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

DOE OSTI2017

The Effects of Strain-Annealing on Tuning Permeability and Lowering Losses in Fe-Ni-Based Metal Amorphous Nanocomposites

Here, Fe-Ni-based metal amorphous nanocomposites with a range of compositions (Fe 100–x Ni x ) 80 Nb 4 Si 2 B 14 (30 ≤ x ≤ 70) are investigated for motor and transformer applications, where it is beneficial to have tunable permeability. It is shown that strain annealing offers an effective method for tuning permeability in these alloys. For an Fe-rich alloy, permeability increased from 4000 to 16,000 with a positive magnetostriction. In a Ni-rich alloy, permeability decreased from 290 to 40 with a negative magnetostriction. Significant elongations (above 60%) are observed during strain annealing at high stress. Crystallization products have been determined in all alloys heated to 480°C. γ-FeNi is formed in all alloys, while (Fe 30 Ni 70 ) 80 Nb 4 Si 2 B 14 also undergoes secondary crystallization at temperatures of approximately 480°C to form a phase with the Cr 23 C 6 -type structure and a likely composition of Fe 21 Nb 2 B 6 . Toroidal losses have been measured for (Fe 70 Ni 30 ) 80 Nb 4 Si y B 16–y (0 ≤ y ≤ 3) at various annealing temperatures. At an induction of 1 T and frequency of 400 Hz and 1 kHz, the toroidal losses obtained are W 1.0T, 400 Hz = 0.9 W/kg and W 1.0T, 1 kHz = 2.3 W/kg, respectively. These losses are lower than losses recently reported for state of the art 3.0% and 6.5% silicon steels, a Metglas Fe-based amorphous alloy, and some Fe-based nanocomposites.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

DOE OSTI2019

Direct Measurement of Backstreaming Ions from the Axis 2 Septum Dump and RF Generation

The DARHT-II accelerator produces a 2-kA, 17-MeV beam in a 1600-ns pulse. After exiting the accelerator, the pulse is sliced into four short pulses by a kicker and quadrupole septum and then transported for several meters to a high Z material target for conversion to x-rays for radiography. The un-kicked beam is diverted to a graphite dump. The interaction of this beam with the dump produces ions that propagate back to the target beamline and affect the beam properties. Coupling of the electron beam and ions to the beam dump vacuum chamber can also produce significant amounts of radiofrequency fields (RF) that disrupt the beam transport to the target. This requires a change in the nominal tune in order to minimize the heating of the carbon beam dump and suppress desorption of ions. Initially, ions are generated through stimulated desorption and ionization of the monolayers of water vapor stuck to the beam dump surface. These ions propagate upstream at high speeds and act as an electrostatic focusing lens by reducing the beam space charge. As the beam size on the dump decreases, the dump is sufficiently heated so that a surface plasma is formed and much greater quantities of ions are generated through temperature limited thermionic emission. The interaction of these ions with the beam creates RF which causes significant disruption of the beam. The results of a 3D PIC simulation show that ions can propagate back to the target beam line in about 500 ns. A beam position monitor (BPM) located just upstream of the septum was modified to include four capacitive pickups in addition to four of the usual inductive pickups. The inductive and capacitive pickups provide a measure of the beam current. The capacitive pickups are very sensitive to low velocity ions. As ions from the beam dump pass through the BPM the inductive and capacitive pickup will record two different measures of the beam current. Initial results from this BPM will be discussed along with other measurements which indicate the presence of backstreaming ions.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

DOE OSTI2024

Studies on the Vitrification Potential of High Risk Spent Nuclear Fuels

This research explored vitrification of U-Zr nuclear fuel that exhibits an explosion hazard when processed by common nitric acid dissolution. Glass frits were chosen based on properties that had been previously measured as well as being demonstrated successfully in production at the Defense Waste Process Facility (DWPF). Zirconium and Aluminum metal powders were chosen to represent the spent fuels after literature demonstrated that the potential phase that causes the issue for explosive reaction in the effluent stream is tied to the Zirconium-III phase field. DSC measurements were carried out on various simulants and waste forms to better understand thermal behavior of these materials. Zirconium (Zr) was tested with both nitric acid and the new effluent flowsheet that is under development by the SRNL Chemical Process Control (CPC) group. The nitric acid test did show the expected exothermic behavior as well as how the behavior is affected by particle size of the powders used. In contrast, the effluent samples did not show an exothermic peak. However, the concentration of metal in the samples was orders of magnitude lower than in the nitric acid testing and further testing of the effect of concentration on the exothermicity that could be measured confirmed a dampened signal. Tests were run that included frit, both DWPF Frit 510 and Iron Phosphate frit, exhibiting complex curves that included multiple endothermic and exothermic peaks during heating and cooling. The final crucible samples appear similarly to the bulk glasses pointing to these peaks being a part of the dissolution of the simulant into the base glasses.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

DOE OSTI2017

Axial magnetic field injection in magnetized liner inertial fusion

MagLIF is a fusion concept using a Z-pinch implosion to reach thermonuclear fusion. In current experiments, the implosion is driven by the Z-machine using 19 MA of electrical current with a rise time of 100 ns. MagLIF requires an initial axial magnetic field of 30 T to reduce heat losses to the liner wall during compression and to confine alpha particles during fusion burn. This field is generated well before the current ramp starts and needs to penetrate the transmission lines of the pulsed-power generator, as well as the liner itself. Consequently, the axial field rise time must exceed hundreds of microseconds. Any coil capable of being submitted to such a field for that length of time is inevitably bulky. The space required to fit the coil near the liner, increases the inductance of the load. In turn, the total current delivered to the load decreases since the voltage is limited by driver design. Yet, the large amount of current provided by the Z-machine can be used to produce the required 30 T field by tilting the return current posts surrounding the liner, eliminating the need for a separate coil. However, the problem now is the field penetration time, across the liner wall. This paper discusses why skin effect arguments do not hold in the presence of resistivity gradients. Numerical simulations show that fields larger than 30 T can diffuse across the liner wall in less than 60 ns, demonstrating that external coils can be replaced by return current posts with optimal helicity.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

DOE OSTI2026

Spherical tokamak physics research in preparation for the operation of NSTX-U

The National Spherical Torus Experiment Upgrade (NSTX-U) is preparing to resume operation, representing a crucial step toward realizing compact, cost-effective fusion pilot plants. In advance of this, extensive modeling and data analysis have been conducted to advance the physics basis for low-aspect-ratio, high-performance plasma regimes, focusing on three core objectives: confinement and stability, power and particle handling, and steady-state operation. Significant progress has been made in understanding the electron temperature flattening in high-β plasmas, which is shown to be driven by a complex interplay of magnetohydrodynamic instabilities (e.g. non-resonant infernal modes), fast-ion-driven Alfvén eigenmodes, and electron and ion-scale micro-instabilities, particularly Kinetic Ballooning Modes (KBMs), whose destabilization is strongly dependent on parallel magnetic field fluctuations (δB ∥ ). Furthermore, a new gyrokinetic critical pedestal model was developed, accurately predicting pedestal structure by identifying KBMs as the primary stability limit, offering a critical constraint for future high-confinement scenarios. To address the challenge of high heat flux, novel liquid lithium plasma-facing components were modeled. The analysis confirmed that lithium vapor shielding is a self-regulating mechanism for heat mitigation, while also emphasizing that strong main ion parallel flow is essential to minimize core lithium contamination. Finally, progress toward steady-state operation was anchored by developing the required physics basis and control tools. This includes predictive modeling for reversed magnetic shear sustainment, demonstrating that magnetic island-induced bootstrap current reduction is negligible in STs, and advancing real-time control and disruption avoidance capabilities. The development of high-speed surrogate models (e.g. MMMNet) provides computationally efficient tools vital for non-inductive scenario optimization and integrated, low-disruptivity operations planned for NSTX-U.

NSTX-U↗

DOE OSTI2012

Effect of adding small amount of inductive fields to O{sub 2}, Ar/O{sub 2} capacitively coupled plasmas

Electron energy distribution functions (EEDFs) of low pressure O{sub 2} plasma were measured by adding small amount of coil power in a capacitive discharge. When the plasma was generated by bias power only, the measured EEDF showed a bi-Maxwellian distribution. However, when a very small coil power (a few Watts) was added, the EEDF evolved abruptly into a Maxwellian distribution, while the electron density was decreased. In an Ar/O{sub 2} mixture discharge, this EEDF evolution to the Maxwellian was also observed at a relatively higher coil power. This abrupt change in EEDFs with a very small coil power appears to be attributed to a combined effect of collisionless heating by capacitive and induced electric fields.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

DOE OSTI2015

Optical modeling and physical performances evaluations for the JT-60SA ECRF antenna

The purpose of this work is the optical modeling and physical performances evaluations of the JT-60SA ECRF launcher system. The beams have been simulated with the electromagnetic code GRASP® and used as input for ECCD calculations performed with the beam tracing code GRAY, capable of modeling propagation, absorption and current drive of an EC Gaussion beam with general astigmatism. Full details of the optical analysis has been taken into account to model the launched beams. Inductive and advanced reference scenarios has been analysed for physical evaluations in the full poloidal and toroidal steering ranges for two slightly different layouts of the launcher system.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

DOE OSTI2021

Floquet Prethermalization with Lifetime Exceeding 90 s in a Bulk Hyperpolarized Solid

Here, we report the observation of long-lived Floquet prethermal states in a bulk solid composed of dipolar-coupled 13 C nuclei in diamond at room temperature. For precessing nuclear spins prepared in an initial transverse state, we demonstrate pulsed spin-lock Floquet control that prevents their decay over multiple-minute-long periods. We observe Floquet prethermal lifetimes $T^{'}_{2}$≈90.9 s, extended >60 000-fold over the nuclear free induction decay times. The spins themselves are continuously interrogated for ~10 min, corresponding to the application of ≈5.8×10 6 control pulses. The 13 C nuclei are optically hyperpolarized by lattice nitrogen vacancy centers; the combination of hyperpolarization and continuous spin readout yields significant signal-to-noise ratio in the measurements. This allows probing the Floquet thermalization dynamics with unprecedented clarity. We identify four characteristic regimes of the thermalization process, discerning short-time transient processes leading to the prethermal plateau and long-time system heating toward infinite temperature. This Letter points to new opportunities possible via Floquet control in networks of dilute, randomly distributed, low-sensitivity nuclei. In particular, the combination of minutes-long prethermal lifetimes and continuous spin interrogation opens avenues for quantum sensors constructed from hyperpolarized Floquet prethermal nuclei.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

NASA NTRS1974

Effect of fast neutron, gamma-ray and combined radiations on the thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate single crystals

The thermal decomposition kinetics have been determined for ammonium perchlorate crystals subjected to a fast neutron irradiation or to a fast neutron irradiation followed by a gamma-ray irradiation. Qualitatively, the radiation induced changes are similar to those obtained in this and in previous studies, with samples exposed only to gamma rays. The induction period is shortened and the rate constants, obtained from an Avrami-Erofeyev kinetic analysis, are modified. The acceleratory period constant increases and the decay period constant decreases. When compared on an equal deposited energy basis, the fast neutron induced changes are appreciably larger than the gamma-ray induced changes. Some, or all, of the fast neutron induced effects might be attributable to the introduction of localized regions of concentrated radiation damage ('spikes') by lattice atom recoils which become thermal decomposition sites when the crystals are heated.

Herley, P. J.↗

DOE OSTI2014

E→H mode transition density and power in two types of inductively coupled plasma configuration

E → H transition power and density were investigated at various argon pressures in inductively coupled plasma (ICP) in a cylindrical interlaid chamber. The transition power versus the pressure shows a minimum transition power at 4 Pa (ν/ω=1) for argon. Then the transition density hardly changes at low pressures (ν/ω≪1), but it increases clearly when argon pressure exceeds an appropriate value. In addition, both the transition power and transition density are lower in the re-entrant configuration of ICP compared with that in the cylindrical configuration of ICP. The result may be caused from the decrease of stochastic heating in the re-entrant configuration of ICP. This work is useful to understand E → H mode transition and control the transition points in real plasma processes.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

NASA NTRS1978

Shock tube and shock wave research; Proceedings of the Eleventh International Symposium, University of Washington, Seattle, Wash., July 11-14, 1977

Papers are presented on the applications of shock-wave technology to the study of hydrodynamics, the use of the pressure-wave machine for charging diesel engines, and measurements of the heat-transfer rate in gas-turbine components. Consideration is given to shock propagation along 90-degree bends, the explosive dissemination of liquids, and rotational and vibrational relaxation behind weak shock waves in water vapor. Shock phenomena associated with expansion flows are described and stratospheric-related research using the shock tube is outlined. Attention is given to shock-wave ignition of magnesium powders, Mach reflection and boundary layers, and transition in the shock-induced unsteady boundary layer on a flat plate. Shock-tube measurements of induction and post-induction rates for low-Btu gas mixtures are presented and shock-initiated ignition in COS-N2O-Ar mixtures is described. Cluster growth rates in supersaturated lead vapor are presented and a study of laser-induced plasma motion in a solenoidal magnetic field is reviewed.

Ahlborn, B.↗

DOE OSTI2019

Core structure and secondary breakdown of an exploding wire in the current-pause regime

The results of experiments with rapidly exploding thin conductors inthe current-pause regime are presented. Copper wires 25μm in diameter and 12 mm in length serve as loads for a GVP pulsed generator based on a low-inductance capacitor. The generator produces current pulses of up to 10 kA with dI/dt up to 50 A/ns. A 100–800-ns current-pause regime is obtained for charging voltages of 10–15 kV. The discharge channel structure is studied by shadow photography using 0.53-μm, 10-ns second-harmonic pulses from a Nd 3+ :YAG laser. In the experiments, three types of secondary breakdown are observed, with different symmetry types, different current-pause durations, and different dependences on the energy deposited into the wire during its resistive heating. All of these breakdown types develop inside a tubular core that is produced in the current-pause stage and that remains almost undamaged by the breakdown.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗