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At least 865 records · Page 48

Stability Considerations Using a Microscopic Stability Model Applied to a 2G Thin Film Coated Superconductor

A numerical, finite element simulation of local temperature fields, critical current and transport current distributions is applied to a 2G thin film coated high-temperature superconductor. The focus is on simulation of quenches originating from transport current locally exceeding critical current density. As in previous reports, a statistical treatment of superconductor parameters (critical temperature, current and magnetic field) is applied for this analysis; it shall take into account uncertainties possibly arising from shortcomings in conductor manufacture or during measurements of their properties. The results of the calculations are used as quasi-boundary (driving) conditions for a subsequent transient microscopic numerical stability analysis. Traditionally, stability analysis usually applies analytic stability functions that incorporate conventional, phonon-related timescales, t and disturbances. The question is whether decay of electron pairs and subsequent relaxation of the excited state to a new dynamic equilibrium carrier concentration, the “electron aspect” of the stability problem, under the same disturbances, proceeds on another timescale, t{sup ′}. Is this timescale identical to the traditional (phonon) timescale, t? If not, how large are the differences? The recently reported microscopic stability model, now applied to a thin film conductor, is consulted to find an answer to these questions. A time limit, t{sub Quench}, can be extracted from the simulations, as the time of immediate onset of a quench. This is a new approach in stability considerations since, conventionally, a temperature limit, T < T{sub Crit}, is set as stability criterion. If electrical operation or cooling conditions cannot immediately respond to this challenge, the thin film superconductor, if this time limit is exceeded, will hardly be able to return to zero loss current transport.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Visual Data Analysis as an Integral Part of Environmental Management

The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Environmental Management (DOE/EM) currently supports an effort to understand and predict the fate of nuclear contaminants and their transport in natural and engineered systems. Geologists, hydrologists, physicists and computer scientists are working together to create models of existing nuclear waste sites, to simulate their behavior and to extrapolate it into the future. We use visualization as an integral part in each step of this process. In the first step, visualization is used to verify model setup and to estimate critical parameters. High-performance computing simulations of contaminant transport produces massive amounts of data, which is then analyzed using visualization software specifically designed for parallel processing of large amounts of structured and unstructured data. Finally, simulation results are validated by comparing simulation results to measured current and historical field data. We describe in this article how visual analysis is used as an integral part of the decision-making process in the planning of ongoing and future treatment options for the contaminated nuclear waste sites. Lessons learned from visually analyzing our large-scale simulation runs will also have an impact on deciding on treatment measures for other contaminated sites.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Mathematical modeling of a proton-conducting solid oxide fuel cell with current leakage

Here, a framework of charge transports in proton-conducting solid oxide fuel cells (H-SOFCs) with considering current leakage is developed by assuming four electrode reactions. Current leakage happens when electron holes pass through the electrolyte and combine with electrons at the anode side. An analytical solution of leakage currents is proposed depending on the Nernst-Planck equation. On the basis of the analysis expression, a mathematical model of H-SOFCs is proposed, which can provide the information about current-voltage characteristics, leakage current density, Faraday and energy efficiencies. Moreover, H-SOFCs with the BaZr 0.8 Y 0.2 O 3 electrolyte are fabricated and tested, and the proposed model well reproduces the experimental data. The simulation results indicate that current leakage primarily affects the H-SOFC performance when the output voltage is close to the OCV. Both Faraday efficiencies and energy efficiencies decrease with increasing operating temperatures due to the existence of current leakage.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗

Physics of forced magnetic reconnection in coaxial helicity injection experiments in National Spherical Torus Experiment

We numerically examine the physics of fast flux closure in transient coaxial helicity injection (CHI) experiments in National Spherical Torus Experiment (NSTX). By performing resistive Magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) simulations with poloidal injector coil currents held constant in time, we find that closed flux surfaces are formed through forced magnetic reconnection. Through a local Sweet-Parker type reconnection with an elongated current sheet in the injector region, closed flux surfaces expand in the NSTX global domain. Simulations demonstrate outflows approaching poloidally Alfvénic flows and reconnection times consistent with the Sweet-Parker model. Critical requirements for magnetic reconnection and flux closure are studied in detail. These primary effects, which are magnetic diffusivity, injector flux, injector flux footprint width, and rate of injector voltage reduction, are simulated for transient CHI experiments. The relevant time scales for effective reconnection are τ{sub V}<τ{sub rec}≈τ{sub A}√(S)(1+Pm){sup 1/4}<τ{sub R}, where τ{sub V} is the time for the injector voltage reduction, τ{sub A} is the poloidal Alfvén transit time, τ{sub R} is the global resistive diffusion time, and Pm and S are Prandtl and Lundquist numbers.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Benchmark problems for the Mesoscale Multiphysics Phase Field Simulator (MEMPHIS)

This report details the current benchmark results to verify, validate and demonstrate the capabilities of the in-house multi-physics phase-field modeling framework Mesoscale Multiphysics Phase Field Simulator (MEMPHIS) developed at the Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies (CINT). MEMPHIS is a general phase-field capability to model various nanoscience and materials science phenomena related to microstructure evolution. MEMPHIS has been benchmarked against a suite of reported classical phase-field benchmark problems to verify and validate the correctness, accuracy and precision of the models and numerical methods currently implemented into the code.

74 ATOMIC AND MOLECULAR PHYSICS↗

Effects of magnetic islands on bootstrap current in toroidal plasmas

The effects of magnetic islands on electron bootstrap current in toroidal plasmas are studied using gyrokinetic simulations. The magnetic islands cause little changes of the bootstrap current level in the banana regime because of trapped electron effects. In the plateau regime, the bootstrap current is completely suppressed at the island centers due to the destruction of trapped electron orbits by collisions and the flattening of pressure profiles by the islands. In the collisional regime, small but finite bootstrap current can exist inside the islands because of the pressure gradients created by large collisional transport across the islands. Lastly, simulation results show that the bootstrap current level increases near the island separatrix due to steeper local density gradients.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Features of space-charge-limited emission in foil-less diodes

Space-charge-limited (SCL) current can always be obtained from the blade surface of annular cathodes in foil-less diodes which are widely used in O-type relativistic high power microwave generators. However, there is little theoretical analysis regarding it due to the mathematical complexity, and almost all formulas about the SCL current in foil-less diodes are based on numerical simulation results. This paper performs an initial trial in calculation of the SCL current from annular cathodes theoretically under the ultra-relativistic assumption and the condition of infinitely large guiding magnetic field. The numerical calculation based on the theoretical research is coherent with the particle-in-cell (PIC) simulation result to some extent under a diode voltage of 850 kV. Despite that the theoretical research gives a much larger current than the PIC simulation (41.3 kA for the former and 9.7 kA for the latter), which is induced by the ultra-relativistic assumption in the theoretical research, they both show the basic characteristic of emission from annular cathodes in foil-less diodes, i.e., the emission enhancement at the cathode blade edges, especially at the outer edge. This characteristic is confirmed to some extent in our experimental research of cathode plasma photographing under the same diode voltage and a guiding magnetic field of 4 T.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

The impact of Hall physics on magnetized high energy density plasma jets

Hall physics is often neglected in high energy density plasma jets due to the relatively high electron density of such jets (n{sub e} ∼ 10{sup 19} cm{sup −3}). However, the vacuum region surrounding the jet has much lower densities and is dominated by Hall electric field. This electric field redirects plasma flows towards or away from the axis, depending on the radial current direction. A resulting change in the jet density has been observed experimentally. Furthermore, if an axial field is applied on the jet, the Hall effect is enhanced and ignoring it leads to serious discrepancies between experimental results and numerical simulations. By combining high currents (∼1 MA) and magnetic field helicity (15° angle) in a pulsed power generator such as COBRA, plasma jets can be magnetized with a 10 T axial field. The resulting field enhances the impact of the Hall effect by altering the density profile of current-free plasma jets and the stability of current-carrying plasma jets (e.g., Z-pinches)

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Summary and Assessment of Metal Fuel Capabilities in Bison

The work described in this report was performed under funding from the Nuclear Energy Advanced Modeling and Simulation (NEAMS) program. This report is issued in satisfaction of the level 2 milestone M2MS-18IN0201012 on Release Bison with Initial Metallic Fuel Performance Capability. Metallic fuel development began in Bison a few years after light water reactor development began (~ 2009). The initial development was funded by the Advanced Fuels Campaign. With recent interest from industry, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the Versatile Test Reactor program, the Nuclear Energy Modeling Simulation Program has increased funding for metallic fuel development and validation in FY18. The material models with the most mature development are binary uranium-zirconium and ternary uranium-plutonium-zirconium alloys for fuel and HT9 for cladding. The first material models were incorporated from open literature sources, which include mechanical and thermal material properties that are functions of temperature, porosity, and zirconium concentration, swelling, fission gas release, zirconium diffusion, creep, and sodium coolant channel boundary conditions. These material models have been utilized to simulate ERB-II fuel pins and the results compared to measurements. The EBR-II experiment measurements mostly consist of cladding strain and zirconium redistribution. As such, comparisons to EBR-II measurements are currently limited to these two figures of merit. Simulations and comparisons to experiment measurements have also been done for transient testing of EBR- II fuel pins in TREAT, which included temperature measurements. Preliminary comparisons between Bison calculations and experiment measurements are favorable. These comparisons have also highlighted the importance of the fuel swelling and fission gas release models on cladding strain. Also, Bison metallic fuel simulations are currently being run in support of ATR experiments and VTR exploratory design calculations. Further development and evaluation of individual material models and fuel system models are planned for FY19.

11 NUCLEAR FUEL CYCLE AND FUEL MATERIALS↗

NSTXU Diagnostic Disruption Dynamic Loading Represented by Response Spectra

This article presents the results of transient dynamic simulations of loads due to disruption eddy currents on the NSTXU vacuum vessel. Dynamic loading at diagnostic mounting locations is expressed as response spectra derived from the time history results of the dynamic structural simulations of a variety of disruption scenarios. The disruption simulations draw on a history of the project assessments of worst case disruptions for specific components. Major efforts to assess disruption loading have included the vacuum vessel which is the major structural support for the machine, as well as the passive plates (PPs), high harmonic fast wave (HHFW) antenna, and centerstack casing. Each one of these efforts included transient electromagnetic simulations producing time-dependent eddy current Lorentz loads (and in some cases halo loads) which then were applied to time-dependent structural dynamic analyses intended to obtain the proper dynamic amplification factors. In some instances, the EM model and structural model were identical allowing direct transfer of EM forces to the structural model. In other cases, the EM and structural model were not identical and the vector potential (VP) transfer method was used. The results files from these analyses were available (or re-run) to post process in ANSYS Classic time history postprocessor. In conclusion, the ANSYS command is used to create response spectra from time history data at desired points on the vessel.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Comparison of plastic, high density carbon, and beryllium as indirect drive NIF ablators

Detailed radiation hydrodynamic simulations calibrated to experimental data have been used to compare the relative strengths and weaknesses of three candidate indirect drive ablator materials now tested at the NIF: plastic, High Density Carbon (HDC) or diamond, and beryllium. We apply a common simulation methodology to several currently fielded ablator platforms to benchmark the model and extrapolate designs to the full NIF envelope to compare on a more equal footing. This paper focuses on modeling of the hohlraum energetics which accurately reproduced measured changes in symmetry when changes to the hohlraum environment were made within a given platform. Calculations suggest that all three ablator materials can achieve a symmetric implosion at a capsule outer radius of 1100 m, laser energy of 1.8 MJ, and DT ice mass of 185 g. However, there is more uncertainty in the symmetry predictions for the plastic and beryllium designs. Scaled diamond designs had the most calculated margin for achieving symmetry and the highest fuel absorbed energy at the same scale compared to plastic or beryllium. A comparison of the relative hydrodynamic stability was made using ultra-high resolution capsule simulations and the two dimensional radiation fluxes described in this work. These simulations, which include low and high mode perturbations, suggest that diamond is currently the most promising for achieving higher yields in the near future followed by plastic and more data required to understand beryllium.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Simulative research on the expansion of cathode plasma in high-current electron beam diode

The expansion of cathode plasma has long been recognized as a limiting factor in the impedance lifetime of high-current electron beam diode. Realistic modeling of such plasma is of great necessity in order to discuss the dynamics of cathode plasma. Using the method of particle-in-cell, the expansion of cathode plasma is simulated in this paper by a scaled-down diode model. It is found that the formation of cathode plasma increases the current density in the diode. This consequently leads to the decrease of the potential at plasma front. Once the current density has been increased to a certain value, the potential at plasma front would then be equal to or lower than the plasma potential. Then the ions would move towards the anode, and the expansion of cathode plasma is thereby formed. Different factors affecting the plasma expansion velocity are discussed in this paper. It is shown that the decrease of proton genatation rate has the benefit of reducing the plasma expansion velocity.

43 PARTICLE ACCELERATORS↗

Radiation hydrodynamics modeling of the highest compression inertial confinement fusion ignition experiment from the National Ignition Campaign

The recently completed National Ignition Campaign (NIC) on the National Ignition Facility (NIF) showed significant discrepancies between post-shot simulations of implosion performance and experimentally measured performance, particularly in thermonuclear yield. This discrepancy between simulation and observation persisted despite concerted efforts to include all of the known sources of performance degradation within a reasonable two-dimensional (2-D), and even three-dimensional (3-D), simulation model, e.g., using measured surface imperfections and radiation drives adjusted to reproduce observed implosion trajectories [Clark et al., Phys. Plasmas 20, 056318 (2013)]. Since the completion of the NIC, several effects have been identified that could explain these discrepancies and that were omitted in previous simulations. In particular, there is now clear evidence for larger than anticipated long-wavelength radiation drive asymmetries and a larger than expected perturbation seeded by the capsule support tent. This paper describes an updated suite of one-dimensional (1-D), 2-D, and 3-D simulations that include the current best understanding of these effects identified since the NIC, as applied to a specific NIC shot. The relative importance of each effect on the experimental observables is compared. In combination, these effects reduce the simulated-to-measured yield ratio from 125:1 in 1-D to 1.5:1 in 3-D, as compared to 15:1 in the best 2-D simulations published previously. While the agreement with the experimental data remains imperfect, the comparison to the data is significantly improved and suggests that the largest sources for the previous discrepancies between simulation and experiment are now being included.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

Stable oscillation in spin torque oscillator excited by a small in-plane magnetic field

Theoretical conditions to excite self-oscillation in a spin torque oscillator consisting of a perpendicularly magnetized free layer and an in-plane magnetized pinned layer are investigated by analytically solving the Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert equation. The analytical relation between the current and oscillation frequency is derived. It is found that a large amplitude oscillation can be excited by applying a small field pointing to the direction anti-parallel to the magnetization of the pinned layer. The validity of the analytical results is confirmed by comparing with numerical simulation, showing good agreement especially in a low current region.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗

Local properties of magnetic reconnection in nonlinear resistive- and extended-magnetohydrodynamic toroidal simulations of the sawtooth crash

We diagnose local properties of magnetic reconnection during a sawtooth crash employing the three-dimensional toroidal, extended-magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) code M3D-C 1 . To do so, we sample simulation data in the plane in which reconnection occurs, the plane perpendicular to the helical (m, n) = (1, 1) mode at the q = 1 surface, where m and n are the poloidal and toroidal mode numbers and q is the safety factor. We study the nonlinear evolution of a particular test equilibrium in a non-reduced field representation using both resistive-MHD and extended-MHD models. We find growth rates for the extended-MHD reconnection process exhibit a nonlinear acceleration and greatly exceed that of the resistive-MHD model, as is expected from previous experimental, theoretical, and computational work. We compare the properties of reconnection in the two simulations, revealing the reconnecting current sheets are locally different in the two models and we present the first observation of the quadrupole out-of-plane Hall magnetic field that appears during extended-MHD reconnection in a 3D toroidal simulation (but not in resistive-MHD). We also explore the dependence on toroidal angle of the properties of reconnection as viewed in the plane perpendicular to the helical magnetic field, finding qualitative and quantitative effects due to changes in the symmetry of the reconnection process. Furthermore, this study is potentially important for a wide range of magnetically confined fusion applications, from confirming simulations with extended-MHD effects are sufficiently resolved to describe reconnection, to quantifying local reconnection rates for purposes of understanding and predicting transport, not only at the q = 1 rational surface for sawteeth, but also at higher order rational surfaces that play a role in disruptions and edge-confinement degradation.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

LArSoft: Toolkit for Simulation, Reconstruction and Analysis of Liquid Argon TPC Neutrino Detectors

LArSoft is a set of detector-independent software tools for the simulation, reconstruction and analysis of data from liquid argon (LAr) neutrino experiments The common features of LAr time projection chambers (TPCs) enable sharing of algorithm code across detectors of very dierent size and conguration. LArSoft is currently used in production simulation and reconstruction by the ArgoNeuT, DUNE, LArIAT, MicroBooNE, and SBND experiments. The software suite oers a wide selection of algorithms and utilities, including those for associated photo-detectors and the handling of auxiliary detectors outside the TPCs. Available algorithms cover the full range of simulation and reconstruction, from raw waveforms to high- level reconstructed objects, event topologies and classication. The common code within LArSoft is contributed by adopting experiments, which also provide detector-specic geometry descriptions, and code for the treatment of electronic signals. LArSoft is also a collaboration of experiments, Fermilab and associated software projects which cooperate in setting requirements, priorities, and schedules. In this talk, we outline the general architecture of the software and the interaction with external libraries and detector-specic code. We also describe the dynamics of LArSoft software development between the contributing experiments, the projects supporting the software infrastructure LArSoft relies on, and the core LArSoft support project.

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS↗

NWQ-sim

NWQSim is a quantum circuit simulation environment developed at PNNL. It currently includes two major components: a state-vector simulator (SV-Sim) and a density matrix simulator (DM-Sim) and we may add more components, such as a Clifford simulator, in the future effort. NWQSim has two language interface: C/C++ and Python. It supports Q#/QDK frontend through QIR and QIR-runtime. It supports Qiskit and Cirq frontends through OpenQASM. NWQSim runs on several backends: Intel-CPU, Intel-Xeon-Phi, AMD-CPU, AMD-GPU, NVIDIA-GPU, and IBM-CPU. It supports three modes: (1) single processor, such as a single CPU (with and without AVX2 and AVX512 acceleration), a single NVIDIA GPU or a single AMD GPU; (2) single-node-multi-processors, such as multi-CPUs/Xeon-Phis, multi-NVIDA/AMD GPUs; (3) multi-nodes, such as a CPU cluster, a Xeon-Phi cluster (e.g., ANL Theta, NERSC Cori), an NVIDIA cluster (e.g., ORNL Summit, NERSC Perlmutter).

Li, Ang↗