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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 883 records · Page 49
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS2007

Improved Readout Scheme for SQUID-Based Thermometry

An improved readout scheme has been proposed for high-resolution thermometers, (HRTs) based on the use of superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) to measure temperature- dependent magnetic susceptibilities. The proposed scheme would eliminate counting ambiguities that arise in the conventional scheme, while maintaining the superior magnetic-flux sensitivity of the conventional scheme. The proposed scheme is expected to be especially beneficial for HRT-based temperature control of multiplexed SQUIDbased bolometer sensor arrays. SQUID-based HRTs have become standard for measuring and controlling temperatures in the sub-nano-Kelvin temperature range in a broad range of low-temperature scientific and engineering applications. A typical SQUIDbased HRT that utilizes the conventional scheme includes a coil wound on a core made of a material that has temperature- dependent magnetic susceptibility in the temperature range of interest. The core and the coil are placed in a DC magnetic field provided either by a permanent magnet or as magnetic flux inside a superconducting outer wall. The aforementioned coil is connected to an input coil of a SQUID. Changes in temperature lead to changes in the susceptibility of the core and to changes in the magnetic flux detected by the SQUID. The SQUID readout instrumentation is capable of measuring magnetic-flux changes that correspond to temperature changes down to a noise limit .0.1 nK/Hz1/2. When the flux exceeds a few fundamental flux units, which typically corresponds to a temperature of .100 nK, the SQUID is reset. The temperature range can be greatly expanded if the reset events are carefully tracked and counted, either by a computer running appropriate software or by a dedicated piece of hardware.

Penanen, Konstantin↗
DOE OSTI2025

Expedition UT-GOM2-2 Methods

Methods used during the University of Texas (UT) Deepwater Hydrate Coring Expedition (UT-GOM2-2) include work done onboard the Helix Q4000 in the offshore Gulf of America (Gulf of Mexico), herein “the Gulf”, “dockside” in Salt Lake City, Utah, and some shore-based work in individual laboratories. The goal of this report is two-fold: to provide enough detail on the methods so they can be repeated by others; and to provide a reference document for the team to enhance cross-disciplinary understanding and knowledge. Methods include drilling operations, depth references and depth modification, downhole tool deployment, coring tool performance assessment, core processing, lithostratigraphy, biostratigraphy, as well as physical properties, including core logging and imaging, rock magnetism, dissolved methane concentration, hydrate saturation, microbiology, and geochemistry. An extensive amount of operational work and planning was required before mobilization of the expedition to permit, build mobile labs, and test downhole tools for deepwater drilling.

03 NATURAL GAS↗
DOE OSTI2018

Lattice Location Effect of Ni{sub 50}Mn{sub 36}Sn{sub 14} Heusler Alloy

The magnetic properties of Ni{sub 50}Mn{sub 36}Sn{sub 14} Heusler alloy with L{sub 21} structure (L{sub 21}-NiMnSn HA) are investigated by using the Kaneyoshi approach (KA) within the effective field theory. Mn atoms have two different magnetic properties, and Sn atoms also have two different magnetic properties, according to the lattice location. The L{sub 21}-NiMnSn HA and its components (Mn1, Mn2, Sn1, Sn2, and Ni) exhibit a second-order phase transition from the ferromagnetic phase to the paramagnetic phase at T{sub C} = 2.824. The magnetizations of the HA are obtained as Sn2 > Ni > Mn2 > L{sub 21}-NiMnSn HA > Sn1 > Mn1 at T < T{sub C}. We suggest that the magnetizations of the HA decrease from that of its core atom to its corner atoms. We refer to the different magnetization behavior of the Mn atoms and the Sn atoms of the HA as “lattice location effect (LLE)” because the magnetic difference of the Mn atoms and the Sn atoms of the HA results from their lattice location on the L{sub 21} structure. While the coercive fields are the same with each other, their remanence magnetizations are different. Our theoretical results of M(T) and M(H) of L{sub 21}-NiMnSn HA are in quantitatively good agreement with some experimental results of NiMnSn alloys. Furthermore, the magnetization critical exponent is obtained. Its value is in good agreement with some experimental results and the mean field theory. This case indicates that the model exhibits a universal critical behavior.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2022

Computational study of runaway electrons in MST tokamak discharges with applied resonant magnetic perturbation

A numerical study of magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) and tracer-particle evolution investigates the effects of resonant magnetic perturbations (RMPs) on the confinement of runaway electrons (REs) in tokamak discharges conducted in the Madison Symmetric Torus. In computational results of applying RMPs having a broad toroidal spectrum but a single poloidal harmonic, m = 1 RMP does not suppress REs, whereas m = 3 RMP achieves significant deconfinement but not the complete suppression obtained in the experiment. MHD simulations with the NIMROD code produce sawtooth oscillations, and the associated magnetic reconnection can affect the trajectory of REs starting in the core region. Simulations with m = 3 RMP produce chaotic magnetic topology over the outer region, but the m = 1 RMP produces negligible changes in field topology, relative to applying no RMP. Using snapshots of the MHD simulation fields, full-orbit relativistic electron test particle computations with KORC show ≈50% loss from the m = 3 RMP compared to the 10%–15% loss from the m = 1 RMP. Here, test particle computations of the m = 3 RMP in the time-evolving MHD simulation fields show correlation between MHD activity and late-time particle losses, but total electron confinement is similar to computations using magnetic-field snapshots.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2015

INITIAL FRAGMENTATION IN THE INFRARED DARK CLOUD G28.53−0.25

To study the fragmentation and gravitational collapse of dense cores in infrared dark clouds (IRDCs), we have obtained submillimeter continuum and spectral line data as well as multiple inversion transitions of NH{sub 3} and H{sub 2}O maser data of four massive clumps in IRDC G28.53−0.25. Combining single-dish and interferometer NH{sub 3} data, we derive a rotation temperature of G28.53. We identity 12 dense cores at a 0.1 pc scale based on submillimeter continuum, and obtain their physical properties using NH{sub 3} and continuum data. By comparing the Jeans masses of cores with the core masses, we find that turbulent pressure is important for supporting the gas when 1 pc scale clumps fragment into 0.1 pc scale cores. All cores have a virial parameter that is smaller than 1 if we assume an inverse squared radial density profile, suggesting they are gravitationally bound, and the three most promising star-forming cores have a virial parameter that is smaller than 1 even when taking the magnetic field into account. We also associate the cores with star formation activities revealed by outflows, masers, or infrared sources. Unlike what previous studies have suggested, MM1 turns out to harbor a few star-forming cores and is likely a progenitor of a high-mass star cluster. MM5 is intermediate while MM7/8 are quiescent in terms of star formation, but they also harbor gravitationally bound dense cores and have the potential for forming stars, as in MM1.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2013

Wireless Power Transfer

Wireless Power Transfer is an innovative approach using magnetic resonance coupling of air core transformers designed for today's growing plug-in electric vehicle market. This technology can provide a convenient, safe and flexible means to charge electric vehicles under stationary and dynamic conditions. Plug-in Electric Vehicles (PEV) are burdened by the need for cable and plug charger, galvanic isolation of the on-board electronics, bulk and cost of this charger and the large energy storage system (ESS) packs needed. With a system where you have to physically plug in there are a number of occasions where the owner could very well forget to charge the vehicle. For stationary applications (like charging of a PHEV at home), ORNL's innovative wireless power transfer technology adds a convenience factor compared to actually plugging in which will mean that the vehicle will have a full charge every morning. Electric vehicle charging must be safe, compact and efficient in order to be convenient for customers. By reconfiguring the transformer and altering the resonance frequency, energy is transferred to the battery with lower energy losses and with fewer demands on the primary circuit by the rest of the transformer system. The ORNL discovery shows that sufficient power for the battery can be transferred from the primary to secondary circuits without significant energy losses if the operating frequency is set at 50% to 95% of the resonance frequency of the circuit. The electrical power is then transmitted to the chargeable battery, which is electrically coupled to the secondary circuit through the air core transformer. Some advantages include: Reduced energy losses during transfer of energy to the battery; A charge potential that is relatively unaffected by up to 25% misalignment of vehicle; and Other receiving components draw less power from the primary circuit. These advantages allow wireless power technology applications to expand at the workplace and beyond as the demand for EV rises. For vehicles that operate over a fixed route such as busses and shuttle vehicles, Wireless Power Transfer (WPT) means that a smaller battery pack can be used. In the traditional system, the battery pack is designed to accommodate the needs of the entire route or shift. With WPT the battery can be downsized because it can be charged when the vehicle stops on its route (a rental car shuttle bus, for example, can charge when it waits in the terminal and again when it waits at the rental car place. Thus the battery only needs enough charge to get to the next stop. This decrease in battery size means significant cost savings to electrify the vehicle. This technology enables efficient "opportunity charging stations" for predefined routes and planned stops reducing down time. Charging can occur in minutes. This improvement also eliminates the harmful emissions that occur in garages while buses are at idle during charging. In larger cities, dynamic charging offers an even greater impact utilizing existing infrastructure. As vehicles travel along busy freeways and interstate systems, wireless charging can occur while the vehicle is in motion. With this technology a vehicle essentially has unlimited electric range while using a relatively small battery pack. In-motion charging stations use vehicle sensors to alert the driver. Traveling at normal speeds, sensors establish in-motion charging. WPT transmit pads sequentially energize to the negotiated power level based on vehicle speed and its requested charging energy. Lower power when vehicle speed is slow and much higher power for faster moving vehicles. Vehicle to Infrastructure communications (V2I) coordinates WPT charging level according to on-board battery pack state-of-charge. V2I activates the roadway transmit pads placing them in standby mode and negotiates charging fee based on prevailing grid rate and vehicle energy demand. Dynamic charging would allow electricity to supply a very large fraction of the energy for the transportation sector and reduce greatly petroleum consumption. Previously worrisome traffic delays now provide longer periods of charge while passing over in-motion chargers. Inclement weather such as rain and snow do not affect the charging capability. At ORNL, we are working to develop the robust nature of wireless power technology to provide a convenient, safe and flexible means to charge electric vehicles under stationary and dynamic conditions.

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗
NASA NTRS1991

Comparison of high frequency, high temperature core loss and B-H loop characteristics of an 80 Ni-Fe crystalline alloy and two iron-based amorphous alloys

Limited experimental data exists for the specific core loss and dynamic B-H loops for soft magnetic materials for the combined conditions of high frequency and high temperature. This experimental study investigates the specific core loss and dynamic B-H characteristics of a nickel-iron crystalline magnetic alloy (Supermalloy) and two iron-based amorphous magnetic materials (Metglas 2605S-3A and Metglas 2605SC) over the frequency range of 1-50 kHz and temperature range of 23-300 C under sinusoidal voltage excitation. The effects of maximum magnetic flux density, frequency, and temperature on the specific core loss and on the size and shape of the B-H loops are examined. The Supermalloy and Metglass 2605S-3A and 2605SC data are used to compare the core loss of transformers with identical kVA and voltage ratings.

Wieserman, William R.↗
DOE OSTI2015

Structural analysis of Fe–Mn–O nanoparticles in glass ceramics by small angle scattering

Magnetic nanocrystals containing Fe and Mn were obtained by annealing of silicate glasses with the composition 13.6Na{sub 2}O–62.9SiO{sub 2}–8.5MnO–15.0Fe{sub 2}O{sub 3−x} (mol%) at 580 °C for different periods of time. Here, we present Small Angle Neutron Scattering using Polarized neutrons (SANSPOL) and Anomalous Small Angle X-ray Scattering (ASAXS) investigation on these glass ceramic samples. Analysis of scattering data from both methods reveals the formation of spherical core–shell type of nanoparticles with mean sizes between 10 nm and 100 nm. ASAXS investigation shows the particles have higher concentration of iron atoms and the shell like region surrounding the particles is enriched in SiO{sub 2}. SANSPOL investigation shows the particles are found to be magnetic and are surrounded by a non-magnetic shell-like region. - Graphical abstract: Magnetic spherical core–shell nanoparticles in glass ceramics: SANSPOL and ASAXS investigations. - Highlights: • Formation and growth mechanisms of magnetic nanoparticles in silicate glass. • SANSPOL and ASAXS methods employed to evaluate quantitative information. • Analyses showed formation of nanoparticles with spherical core–shell structures. • Core of the particle is magnetic and surrounded by weak magnetic shell like region.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2021

Planar Transformer With Asymmetric Integrated Leakage Inductance Using Horizontal Air Gap

This article presents a novel planar-based transformer winding and core structure with controllable leakage inductance generation for integrated magnetics applications. As a result of limitations in integrated magnetics from the literature, a new approach is proposed utilizing semi-interleaved windings and controllable leakage via a leakage flux core leg featuring a horizontal air gap. Here, the proposed transformer design is analyzed via detailed reluctance modeling to determine closed-form equations for the magnetizing and asymmetrically distributed leakage inductances. Next, a genetic-algorithm-based multiobjective design optimization problem is developed, seeking to minimize the core and winding losses of the proposed transformer subject to a set of parametric and geometric constraints in a dc-ac dual-active-bridge topology for microinverter applications. The optimization was extended to include other integrated magnetic structures from the literature, where it is determined that the proposed transformer is superior from the perspectives of efficiency, footprint area, and parasitic capacitance. Based on the results of the optimization analysis, two designs with theoretical transformer California Energy Commission (CEC) efficiency drops (i.e., CEC efficiency reduction specifically due to the transformer loss mechanisms) of 1.19% and 0.83% were fabricated and evaluated for electrical and thermal performance in the proposed 40 V, 400 W microinverter.

42 ENGINEERING↗
DOE OSTI2013

THE EFFECT OF LOWER MANTLE METALLIZATION ON MAGNETIC FIELD GENERATION IN ROCKY EXOPLANETS

Recent theoretical and experimental evidence indicates that many of the materials that are thought to exist in the mantles of terrestrial exoplanets will metallize and become good conductors of electricity at mantle pressures. This allows for strong electromagnetic coupling of the core and the mantle in these planets. We use a numerical dynamo model to study the effect of a metallized lower mantle on the dynamos of terrestrial exoplanets using several inner core sizes and mantle conductivities. We find that the addition of an electrically conducting mantle results in stronger core-mantle boundary fields because of the increase in magnetic field stretching. We also find that a metallized mantle destabilizes the dynamo resulting in less dipolar, less axisymmetric poloidal magnetic fields at the core-mantle boundary. The conducting mantle efficiently screens these fields to produce weaker surface fields. We conclude that a conducting mantle will make the detection of extrasolar terrestrial magnetic fields more difficult while making the magnetic fields in the dynamo region stronger.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2018

Influence of Bias Current on Off-Diagonal Magnetoimpedance in Composite Wires

The off-diagonal magnetoimpedance in a composite wire consisting of a highly conductive inner core covered by a soft magnetic layer is studied theoretically. In the presence of bias current, the field dependence of the off-diagonal magnetoimpedance becomes asymmetric due to the combination of the circular magnetic field produced by the bias current and a helical anisotropy in the magnetic layer of the composite wire. The dependences of the asymmetric off-diagonal magnetoimpedance on the external field, frequency, and bias current are investigated. It is demonstrated that the off-diagonal magnetoimpedance in composite wires has high field sensitivity and exhibits nearly linear behavior at low external fields. The influence of the wire parameters such as the anisotropy axis angle, the magnetic layer thickness, and conductivity on the field sensitivity of the off-diagonal magnetoimpedance is analyzed. The results obtained may be useful for development of weak magnetic-field sensors.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗
DOE OSTI2024

The putative center in NGC 1052

Context. Many active galaxies harbor powerful relativistic jets, however, the detailed mechanisms of their formation and acceleration remain poorly understood.Aims. To investigate the area of jet acceleration and collimation with the highest available angular resolution, we study the innermost region of the bipolar jet in the nearby low-ionization nuclear emission-line region (LINER) galaxy NGC 1052.Methods. We combined observations of NGC 1052 taken with VLBA, GMVA, and EHT over one week in the spring of 2017. Our study is focused on the size and continuum spectrum of the innermost region containing the central engine and the footpoints of both jets. We employed a synchrotron-self absorption model to fit the continuum radio spectrum and we combined the size measurements from close to the central engine out to ∼1 pc to study the jet collimation.Results. For the first time, NGC 1052 was detected with the EHT, providing a size of the central region in-between both jet bases of 43 μas perpendicular to the jet axes, corresponding to just around 250 RS (Schwarzschild radii). This size estimate supports previous studies of the jets expansion profile which suggest two breaks of the profile at around 3 × 103 RS and 1 × 104 RS distances to the core. Furthermore, we estimated the magnetic field to be 1.25 Gauss at a distance of 22 μas from the central engine by fitting a synchrotron-self absorption spectrum to the innermost emission feature, which shows a spectral turn-over at ∼130 GHz. Assuming a purely poloidal magnetic field, this implies an upper limit on the magnetic field strength at the event horizon of 2.6 × 104 Gauss, which is consistent with previous measurements.Conclusions. The complex, low-brightness, double-sided jet structure in NGC 1052 makes it a challenge to detect the source at millimeter (mm) wavelengths. However, our first EHT observations have demonstrated that detection is possible up to at least 230 GHz. This study offers a glimpse through the dense surrounding torus and into the innermost central region, where the jets are formed. This has enabled us to finally resolve this region and provide improved constraints on its expansion and magnetic field strength.Key words: methods: observational / techniques: high angular resolution / techniques: interferometric / galaxies: active / galaxies: jets / galaxies: Seyfert⋆⋆ NASA Hubble Fellowship Program, Einstein Fellow.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2015

Steady-state benchmarks of DK4D: A time-dependent, axisymmetric drift-kinetic equation solver

The DK4D code has been written to solve a set of time-dependent, axisymmetric, finite-Larmor-radius drift-kinetic equations (DKEs) for the non-Maxwellian part of the electron and ion distribution functions using the full, linearized Fokker–Planck–Landau collision operator. The plasma is assumed to be in the low- to finite-collisionality regime, as is found in the cores of modern and future magnetic confinement fusion experiments. Each DKE is formulated such that the perturbed distribution function carries no net density, parallel momentum, or kinetic energy. Rather, these quantities are contained within the background Maxwellians and would be evolved by an appropriate set of extended magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equations. This formulation allows for straight-forward coupling of DK4D to existing extended MHD time evolution codes. DK4D uses a mix of implicit and explicit temporal representations and finite element and spectral spatial representations. These, along with other computational methods used, are discussed extensively. Steady-state benchmarks are then presented comparing the results of DK4D to expected analytic results at low collisionality, qualitatively, and to the Sauter analytic fits for the neoclassical conductivity and bootstrap current, quantitatively. These benchmarks confirm that DK4D is capable of solving for the correct, gyroaveraged distribution function in stationary magnetic equilibria. Furthermore, the results presented demonstrate how the exact drift-kinetic solution varies with collisionality as a function of the magnetic moment and the poloidal angle.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2016

Gyrotropic frequency control in ferromagnetic dots using a nanoscale vortex barrier

The vortex translational mode frequency is known to be only weakly dependent on the magnitude of an in-plane magnetic field (e.g. the vortex core position) for circular ferromagnetic dots. Here we demonstrated that the frequency-field dependence becomes discrete when a nanoscale vortex barrier is introduced in the dot structure. We found that the frequency is mostly defined by the outer diameter of the dot or the barrier size for the vortex core located outside or inside the barrier, correspondingly. The experimental results are in good agreement with the micromagnetic simulation.

Ding, Junjia↗
DOE OSTI2023

Destabilizing effects of edge infernal components on resistive wall modes in advanced tokamak scenarios

The stability of the n = 1 resistive wall modes (RWMs) dominated by the pressure-driven infernal components is investigated using the ideal magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) code AEGIS for the advanced tokamak scenarios. Here, n is the toroidal mode number. In the advanced tokamak scenarios, due to the large fraction of bootstrap current contribution, the profile of safety factor q is deeply reversed in magnetic shear in the central core region and locally flattened within the edge pedestal. Consequently, the pressure-driven infernal components develop in the corresponding flat-q regions of both core and edge. However, the edge infernal components dominate the n = 1 RWM structure and lead to lower β N limits for the advanced tokamak scenarios. In the framework of ideal MHD, the edge rotation is found the most critical to the stabilization due to the dominant influence of the edge infernal components, which should be maintained sufficiently large in magnitude and range in order for the rotation alone to fully suppress the n = 1 RWM in typical advanced tokamak scenarios.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2021

Self-consistent core-pedestal ITER scenario modeling

The purpose of these integrated ITER simulations is to identify dependencies that can impact the performance of ITER. The dependence of fusion power production, temperature and density pedestals, and core profiles on varying magnetic-q, edge density fueling strength, neoclassical transport, magnetic field strength, and alpha heating, are examined. It is noted that ion modes usually dominate the interior, while electron modes dominate the barrier. The electron mode without flow shear is substantially stronger. The q increase tends to cause more kinetic ballooning modes at the edge and the q decrease means that the peeling is getting worse, but the ballooning is getting better. The large edge q tends to provide hollow density while small edge q gives normal density profile. This is consistent with the observation that the density of particles is inversely proportional to the density of the plasma current. The rise in the source of the edge particle increases the density of the edge and the reaction rate close to the edge increases temperature fluxes, resulting in weak pedestal barriers. When neoclassical transport is turned off or the strength of B-field is increased, the pronounced edge barriers are identified. In addition, a distinct effect on the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) modes is observed due to the increased B-field. The interesting aspect is that the barrier collapses about q = 2 as the stability of MHD has decreased to replace the barrier with a continuous slope but with roughly the same fusion power. This would actually be good for a reactor. The slope of the H-mode pedestal is found to be reduced due to the alpha heating. It is expected that the problem of edge-localized modes causing damage to the first wall will be eased. The effects of circular, elongated, and general geometry on plasma profiles are also compared and contrasted. The circular geometry has a hollow density profile and no edge or internal thermal transport barrier (ETB or ITB). However, both ETBs and ITBs can be found in the elongated geometry. In general geometry, there is a weaker ETB, comparable ITBs, but a higher edge particle transport barrier than in elongated geometry. Higher density near the edge, on the other hand, causes more wall erosion, so elongated geometry might be the best option.

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗
DOE OSTI2018

The steady growth of the high-energy spectral cut-off in relativistic magnetic reconnection

Magnetic reconnection is invoked as an efficient particle accelerator in a variety of astrophysical sources of non-thermal high-energy radiation. With large-scale two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations of relativistic reconnection (i.e. with magnetization σ >> 1) in pair plasmas, we study the long-term evolution of the power-law slope and high-energy cut-off of the spectrum of accelerated particles. We find that the high-energy spectral cut-off does not saturate at γcut ~ 4σ, as claimed by earlier studies, but it steadily grows with time as long as the reconnection process stays active. At late times, the cut-off scales approximately as γ cut ∝√t, regardless of the flow magnetization and initial temperature. We show that the particles dominating the high-energy spectral cut-off reside in plasmoids, and in particular in a strongly magnetized ring around the plasmoid core. The growth of their energy is driven by the increase in the local field strength, coupled with the conservation of the first adiabatic invariant. We also find that the power-law slope of the spectrum (p = -d log N/d log γ) evolves with time. For σ ≳ 10, the spectrum is hard at early times (p ≲ 2), but it tends to asymptote to p ~ 2; the steepening of the power-law slope allows the spectral cut-off to extend to higher and higher energies, without violating the fixed energy budget of the system. Our results demonstrate that relativistic reconnection is a viable candidate for accelerating the high-energy particles emitting in relativistic astrophysical sources.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2025

Pulse and Polarization Structures in Axion-Converted X-Rays from Pulsars

Neutron stars (NSs) with their strong magnetic fields and hot dense cores could be powerful probes of axions, a classic benchmark of feebly coupled new particles, through abundant production of axions with the axion-nucleon coupling and subsequent conversion into x-rays due to the axion-photon coupling. In this Letter, we point out that the pulsation structures in both the intensity and polarization of x-rays from NSs could provide us additional information about axions and their couplings. We develop new analytical formalisms of pulsation-polarization structure applicable to a wide range of NSs in the axion scenario and argue that they hold in complicated astrophysical environments. As a case study, we apply our formalism to a representative X-ray Dim Isolated Neutron Star, RX J1856.6-3754, with an unexpected hard x-ray excess which might be axion induced. We show with an updated fit that the axion explanation is compatible with both the intensity and pulsation data available, and combining the pulsation data does not shift the posterior by more than 1⁢𝜎. Yet, the preferred parameter space is close to being excluded by other astrophysical constraints. With a 75% reduction of the uncertainties in the pulsation data, we could potentially draw a definite conclusion on the axion-induced x-rays at more than 3⁢𝜎 level.

Axions↗