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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 91 records · Page 5
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2019

Distribution of Ni, Co, Precious, and Platinum Group Metals in Copper Making Process

The distribution coefficients of Ni, Co, Ag, Au, Pt, and Pd between molten copper and silica-saturated iron silicate slags (L{sub Me}{sup Cu/s}) were measured experimentally. The distribution behaviors were studied under typical conditions of copper converting and fire refining, i.e., from 1250 °C to 1350 °C, and from 10{sup −8} to 10{sup −4} atm oxygen partial pressure. The coefficients were determined as the ratios of the trace element weight concentrations measured in situ, directly from the equilibrated metal and slag phases. For the quantitative elemental analysis of the phases, state-of-the-art analytic techniques, including electron probe microanalysis and laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry, were employed. The distribution coefficients L{sub Me}{sup Cu/s} determined can be arranged in the following order: Pt > Au > Pd >> Ag > (Cu) > Ni > Co > (Fe).

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗
DOE OSTI2013

Physical scales in the Wigner-Boltzmann equation

The Wigner-Boltzmann equation provides the Wigner single particle theory with interactions with bosonic degrees of freedom associated with harmonic oscillators, such as phonons in solids. Quantum evolution is an interplay of two transport modes, corresponding to the common coherent particle-potential processes, or to the decoherence causing scattering due to the oscillators. Which evolution mode will dominate depends on the scales of the involved physical quantities. A dimensionless formulation of the Wigner-Boltzmann equation is obtained, where these scales appear as dimensionless strength parameters. A notion called scaling theorem is derived, linking the strength parameters to the coupling with the oscillators. It is shown that an increase of this coupling is equivalent to a reduction of both the strength of the electric potential, and the coherence length. Secondly, the existence of classes of physically different, but mathematically equivalent setups of the Wigner-Boltzmann evolution is demonstrated. - Highlights: Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Dimensionless parameters determine the ratio of quantum or classical WB evolution. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer The scaling theorem evaluates the decoherence effect due to scattering. Black-Right-Pointing-Pointer Evolution processes are grouped into classes of equivalence.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2022

Blanco DECam Bulge Survey (BDBS) Ⅳ: Metallicity distributions and bulge structure from 2.6 million red clump stars

We present photometric metallicity measurements for a sample of 2.6 million bulge red clump stars extracted from the Blanco DECam Bulge Survey (BDBS). Similar to previous studies, we find that the bulge exhibits a strong vertical metallicity gradient, and that at least two peaks in the metallicity distribution functions appear at b < -5°. We can discern a metal-poor ([Fe/H] ~ -0.3) and metal-rich ([Fe/H] ~+0.2) abundance distribution that each show clear systematic trends with latitude, and may be best understood by changes in the bulge’s star formation/enrichment processes. Both groups exhibit asymmetric tails, and as a result we argue that the proximity of a star to either peak in [Fe/H] space is not necessarily an affirmation of group membership. The metal-poor peak shifts to lower [Fe/H] values at larger distances from the plane while the metal-rich tail truncates. Close to the plane, the metal-rich tail appears broader along the minor axis than in off-axis fields. We also posit that the bulge has two metal-poor populations – one that belongs to the metal-poor tail of the low latitude and predominantly metal-rich group, and another belonging to the metal-poor group that dominates in the outer bulge. We detect the X-shape structure in fields with |Z| >0.7 kpc and for stars with [Fe/H] < -0.5. Stars with [Fe/H] > -0.5 may form a spheroidal or ‘thick bar’ distribution while those with [Fe/H] ≳ -0.1 are strongly concentrated near the plane.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2024

Controls and relationships of soil organic carbon abundance and persistence vary across pedo–climatic regions

One of the largest uncertainties in the terrestrial carbon cycle is the timing and magnitude of soil organic carbon (SOC) response to climate and vegetation change. This uncertainty prevents models from adequately capturing SOC dynamics and challenges the assessment of management and climate change effects on soils. Reducing these uncertainties requires simultaneous investigation of factors controlling the amount (SOC abundance) and duration (SOC persistence) of stored C. We present a global synthesis of SOC and radiocarbon profiles (n Profile = 597) to assess the timescales of SOC storage. We use a combination of statistical and depth–resolved compartment models to explore key factors controlling the relationships between SOC abundance and persistence across pedo–climatic regions and with soil depth. This allows us to better understand (i) how SOC abundance and persistence covary across pedo–climatic regions and (ii) how the depth dependence of SOC dynamics relates to climatic and mineralogical controls on SOC abundance and persistence. We show that SOC abundance and persistence are differently related; the controls on these relationships differ substantially between major pedo–climatic regions and soil depth. For example, large amounts of persistent SOC can reflect climatic constraints on soils (e.g., in tundra/polar regions) or mineral absorption, reflected in slower decomposition and vertical transport rates. In contrast, lower SOC abundance can be found with lower SOC persistence (e.g., in highly weathered tropical soils) or higher SOC persistence (e.g., in drier and less productive regions). We relate variable patterns of SOC abundance and persistence to differences in the processes constraining plant C input, microbial decomposition, vertical C transport and mineral SOC stabilization potential. This process–oriented grouping of SOC abundance and persistence provides a valuable benchmark for global C models, highlighting that pedo–climatic boundary conditions are crucial for predicting the effects of climate change and soil management on future C abundance and persistence.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2025

GenomeFace v1.0

GenomeFace is meta-genome binning software. Metagenomic binning, the process of grouping DNA sequences into taxonomic units, is critical for understanding the functions, interactions, and evolutionary dynamics of microbial communities. We propose a deep learning approach to binning using two neural networks, one based on composition and another on environmental abundance, dynamically weighting the contribution of each based on characteristics of the input data. Trained on over 43,000 prokaryotic genomes, our network for composition-based binning is inspired by metric learning techniques used for facial recognition. Using a task-specific, multi-GPU accelerated algorithm to cluster the embeddings produced by our network, our binner leverages marker genes observed to be universally present in nearly all taxa to grade and select optimal clusters of sequences from a hierarchy of candidates. We evaluate our approach on four simulated datasets with known ground truth. Our linear time integration of marker genes recovers more near complete genomes than state of the art but computationally infeasible solutions using them, while being over an order of magnitude faster. Finally, we demonstrate the scalability and acuity of our approach by testing it on three of the largest metagenome assemblies ever performed. Compared to other binners, we produced 47%-183% more near complete genomes. From these datasets, we find over the genomes of over 3000 new candidate species which have never been previously cataloged, representing a potential 4% expansion of the known bacterial tree of life.

Lettich, Richard [Lawrence Berkeley National Labor↗
DOE OSTI2016

Dispersion dynamics of quantum cascade lasers

A key parameter underlying the efficacy of any nonlinear optical process is group velocity dispersion. In quantum cascade lasers (QCLs), there have been several recent demonstrations of devices exploiting nonlinearities in both the mid-infrared and the terahertz. Though the gain of QCLs has been well studied, the dispersion has been much less investigated, and several questions remain about its dynamics and precise origin. In this work, we use time-domain spectroscopy to investigate the dispersion of broadband terahertz QCLs, and demonstrate that contributions from both the material and the intersubband transitions are relevant. We show that in contrast to the laser gain—which is clamped to a fixed value above lasing threshold—the dispersion changes with bias even above threshold, which is a consequence of shifting intersubband populations. In conclusion, we also examine the role of higher-order dispersion in QCLs and discuss the ramifications of our result for devices utilizing nonlinear effects, such as frequency combs.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2011

PERMEABILITY TESTING OF SIMULATED SALTSTONE CORE AND VAULT 4 CELL E SALTSTONE

The Engineering Process Development Group (EPD) of the Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) prepared simulated saltstone core samples to evaluate the effect of sample collection by coring on the permeability of saltstone. The Environmental Restoration Technology Section (ERTS) of the SRNL was given the task of measuring the permeability of cores of simulated saltstone. Saltstone samples collected from Vault 4 Cell E using both dry and wet coring methods were also submitted for permeability analysis. The cores from Vault 4 Cell E were in multiple pieces when they were recovered (Smith, 2008 Cheng et.al, 2009). Permeability testing was only performed on the portions of the core sample that were intact, had no visible fractures or cracks, and met the specifications for 'undisturbed specimens' identified in Method ASTM D5084-03 Standard Test Methods for Measurement of Hydraulic Conductivity of Saturated Porous Materials Using a Flexible Wall Permeameter that was used for the testing. Permeability values for cores of simulated saltstone compared with values from permeability tests conducted on molded saltstone samples by an independent laboratory using the same method. All hydraulic conductivity results for Vault 4 samples exceeded results for both molded and cored saltstone simulant samples. The average hydraulic conductivity result for Vault 4 Cell E samples of 3.9 x 10{sup -7} cm/sec is approximately two orders of magnitude greater than that of the simulated saltstone with an average of 4.1 x 10{sup -9} cm/sec. Numerical flow and transport simulations of moisture movement through saltstone performed for the performance assessment of the Saltstone Disposal Facility (SDF) used 2.0 x 10{sup -9} cm/sec for the hydraulic conductivity of saltstone (Flach et al, 2009). The results for simulated versus actual saltstone were further compared using non-parametric statistics. The results from non-parametric statistical analysis of results indicate that there is at least a 98% probability that the hydraulic conductivity of saltstone samples collected from Vault 4 Cell E saltstone is greater than that of the baseline simulant mix.

22 GENERAL STUDIES OF NUCLEAR REACTORS↗
DOE OSTI2012

Preliminary Background Radiation Observations Procedure

This procedure will provide guidance concerning the collection of preliminary background radiation data for the Second Line of Defense (SLD) Program. Making preliminary background radiation observations is important during initial visits where radiation portal monitors (RPMs) are being considered for installation to highlight clear problem areas of high radiation that could impact RPM performance. The information collected during initial site surveys is used to document clear problem areas and guide design discussions with the stakeholders during the visit. This information also helps to guide the conceptual design of proposed locations for RPM and secondary inspection sites. This procedure groups the processes of the preliminary background radiation observations into the following steps: 1. previsit preparations and logistics, 2. procedures, and 3. use of data.

Instrumentation Related to Nuclear Science & Techn↗
DOE OSTI2013

Contribution to the Development of DOE ARM Climate Best Estimate Data (ARMBE) Products: Land Surface Forcing and Evaluation Data Set (ARMBE-LAND) from the ARM SGP Site

To support the LLNL ARM Best Estimate Data Products (ARMBE) data development, the San Jose State University (SJSU)’s group will provide the LLNL team yearly data files (in a format consistent with ARMBE) that contain variables from the instruments defined in Table 1 for the ARM SGP site during the available period. The ARMBE-Land data product will blend multiple ARM observations including the Energy Balance Bowen Ratio Station (EBBR), Soil Water and Temperature System (SWATs) and CO2 Flux (CO2FLX) data sets. The SJSU group will process these datasets with stringent quality controls to remove suspicious data points and average quality-controlled data over a desired temporal resolution (one hour). A qc-flag will be assigned to each variable to indicate how many valid data points are used to get the hourly mean data, consistent with other ARMBE fileds.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2020

Adapting DESGW Single Epoch Image Differencing to the LSST Software Stack

Optical follow-up for gravitational wave events remains an important factor in potentially unlocking the secrets of dark matter in the universe. The Dark Energy Survey Gravitational Wave (DESGW) Group currently processes optical data from Dark Energy Camera (DECam) using a custom software pipeline derived from existing DES Supernovae Processing pipelines. While effective, is difficult to maintain and develop a custom workflow as new processing strategies are discovered, and researchers are diverted to newer projects in dark energy investigations. By building a modified image ingestion script and implementing the open-source Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) Processing Pipeline for DESGW data, the lifetime and efficiency of the DESGW difference imaging program can be extended.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2020

Heterogeneous graphics processing unit for scheduling thread groups for execution on variable width SIMD units

A compute unit configured to execute multiple threads in parallel is presented. The compute unit includes one or more single instruction multiple data (SIMD) units and a fetch and decode logic. The SIMD units have differing numbers of arithmetic logic units (ALUs), such that each SIMD unit can execute a different number of threads. The fetch and decode logic is in communication with each of the SIMD units, and is configured to assign the threads to the SIMD units for execution based on such differing numbers of ALUs.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2021

An automated approach to the alignment of compound refractive lenses

Compound refractive lenses (CRLs) are established X-ray focusing optics, and are thus a key element of many beamlines at X-ray facilities, used to either to focus a beam or image a sample. While CRLs are quite established, the stack of single lens elements affords a very small numerical aperture because of the thick lens profile, making them far more difficult to align than classical optical lenses that obey the thin-lens approximation. This means that the alignment must be very precise and is highly sensitive to changes to the incident beam; aligning CRLs is thus typically treated as a time-consuming manual process. Many groups circumvent day-to-day realignment by using engineering controls (e.g. mounting optics) that sacrifice some of the beam’s focusing characteristics, i.e. spot size, or resolution. While these choices minimize setup time, there are clear disadvantages. This work presents a new automated approach to align CRLs using a simple alignment apparatus that is easy to adapt and install at different types of X-ray experiments or facilities. Our approach builds on recent CRL modeling efforts, using an approach based on the Stochastic Nelder-Mead (SNM) simplex method. We demonstrate the efficacy of this method by numerical simulation and then extend this test to real experiments conducted at the Advanced Photon Source to confirm its performance with a synchrotron X-ray beam. This work provides an opportunity to automate key instrumentation at X-ray facilities.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗
DOE OSTI2012

THE ASSEMBLY OF THE RED SEQUENCE AT z {approx} 1: THE COLOR AND SPECTRAL PROPERTIES OF GALAXIES IN THE Cl1604 SUPERCLUSTER

We investigate the properties of the 525 spectroscopically confirmed members of the Cl1604 supercluster at z {approx} 0.9 as part of the Observations of Redshift Evolution in Large Scale Environments survey. In particular, we focus on the photometric, stellar mass, morphological, and spectral properties of the 305 member galaxies of the eight clusters and groups that comprise the Cl1604 supercluster. Using an extensive Keck Low-Resolution Imaging Spectrometer (LRIS)/DEep Imaging Multi-Object Spectrograph (DEIMOS) spectroscopic database in conjunction with ten-band ground-based, Spitzer, and Hubble Space Telescope imaging, we investigate the buildup of the red sequence in groups and clusters at high redshift. Nearly all of the brightest and most massive red-sequence galaxies present in the supercluster environment are found to lie within the bounds of the cluster and group systems, with a surprisingly large number of such galaxies present in low-mass group systems. Despite the prevalence of these red-sequence galaxies, we find that the average cluster galaxy has a spectrum indicative of a star-forming galaxy, with a star formation rate between those of z {approx} 1 field galaxies and moderate-redshift cluster galaxies. The average group galaxy is even more active, exhibiting spectral properties indicative of a starburst. The presence of massive, red galaxies and the high fraction of starbursting galaxies present in the group environment suggest that significant processing is occurring in group environments at z {approx} 1 and earlier. There is a deficit of low-luminosity red-sequence galaxies in all Cl1604 clusters and groups, suggesting that such galaxies transition to the red sequence at later times. Extremely massive ({approx}10{sup 12} M{sub sun}) red-sequence galaxies routinely observed in rich clusters at z {approx} 0 are also absent from the Cl1604 clusters and groups. We suggest that such galaxies form at later times through merging processes. There are significant populations of transition galaxies at intermediate stellar masses (log(M{sub *})=10.25-10.75) present in the group and cluster environments, suggesting that this range is important for the buildup of the red-sequence mass function at z {approx} 1. Through a comparison of the transitional populations present in the Cl1604 cluster and group systems, we find evidence that massive blue-cloud galaxies are quenched earliest in the most dynamically relaxed systems and at progressively later times in dynamically unrelaxed systems.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2013

THE STRIKINGLY SIMILAR RELATION BETWEEN SATELLITE AND CENTRAL GALAXIES AND THEIR DARK MATTER HALOS SINCE z = 2

Satellite galaxies in rich clusters are subject to numerous physical processes that can significantly influence their evolution. However, the typical L* satellite galaxy resides in much lower mass galaxy groups, where the processes capable of altering their evolution are generally weaker and have had less time to operate. To investigate the extent to which satellite and central galaxy evolution differs, we separately model the stellar mass-halo mass (M{sub *}-M{sub h} ) relation for these two populations over the redshift interval 0 < z < 1. This relation for central galaxies is constrained by the galaxy stellar mass function while the relation for satellite galaxies is constrained against recent measurements of the galaxy two-point correlation function (2PCF). Our approach does not rely on the abundance matching technique but instead adopts a flexible functional form for the relation between satellite galaxy stellar mass and subhalo mass, where subhalo mass is considered as the maximum mass that a subhalo has ever reached in its merger history, M{sub peak}. At z {approx} 0 the satellites, on average, have {approx}10% larger stellar masses at fixed M{sub peak} compared to central galaxies of the same halo mass (although the two relations are consistent at 2{sigma}-3{sigma} for M{sub peak} {approx}> 10{sup 13} M{sub Sun }). This is required in order to reproduce the observed stellar mass-dependent 2PCF and satellite fractions. At low masses our model slightly under-predicts the correlation function at {approx}1 Mpc scales. At z {approx} 1 the satellite and central galaxy M{sub *}-M{sub h} relations are consistent within the errors, and the model provides an excellent fit to the clustering data. At present, the errors on the clustering data at z {approx} 2 are too large to constrain the satellite model. A simple model in which satellite and central galaxies share the same M{sub *}-M{sub h} relation is able to reproduce the extant z {approx} 2 clustering data. We speculate that the striking similarity between the satellite and central galaxy M{sub *}-M{sub h} relations since z {approx} 2 arises because the central galaxy relation evolves very weakly with time and because the stellar mass of the typical satellite galaxy has not changed significantly since it was accreted. The reason for this last point is not yet entirely clear, but it is likely related to the fact that the typical {approx}L* satellite galaxy resides in a poor group where transformation processes are weak and lifetimes are short.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗
DOE OSTI2018

Primary Modes of Global Drop Size Distributions

Understanding drop size distribution (DSD) variability has important implications for remote sensing and numerical modeling applications. Twelve disdrometer datasets across three latitude bands are analyzed in this study, spanning a broad range of precipitation regimes: light rain, orographic, deep convective, organized midlatitude, and tropical oceanic. Principal component analysis (PCA) is used to reveal comprehensive modes of global DSD spatial and temporal variability. Although the locations contain different distributions of individual DSD parameters, all locations are found to have the same modes of variability. Based on PCA, six groups of points with unique DSD characteristics emerge. The physical processes that underpin these groups are revealed through supporting radar observations. Group 1 (group 2) is characterized by high (low) liquid water content (LWC), broad (narrow) distribution widths, and large (small) median drop diameters D 0 . Radar analysis identifies group 1 (group 2) as convective (stratiform) rainfall. Group 3 is characterized by weak, shallow radar echoes and large concentrations of small drops, indicative of warm rain showers. Group 4 identifies heavy stratiform precipitation. The low latitudes exhibit distinct bimodal distributions of the normalized intercept parameter N w , LWC, and D 0 and are found to have a clustering of points (group 5) with high rain rates, large N w , and moderate D 0 , a signature of robust warm rain processes. A distinct group associated with ice-based convection (group 6) emerges in the midlatitudes. Although all locations exhibit the same covariance of parameters associated with these groups, it is likely that the physical processes responsible for shaping the DSDs vary as a function of location.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2018

Effect of Acid on Surface Hydroxyl Groups on Kaolinite and Montmorillonite

Mineral dust aerosol participates in heterogeneous chemistry in the atmosphere. In particular, the hydroxyl groups on the surface of aluminosilicate clay minerals are important for heterogeneous atmospheric processes. These functional groups may be altered by acidic processing during atmospheric transport. In this study, we exposed kaolinite (KGa-1b) and montmorillonite (STx-1b) to aqueous sulfuric acid and then rinsed the soluble reactants and products off in order to explore changes to functional groups on the mineral surface. To quantify the changes due to acid treatment of edge hydroxyl groups, we use 19 F magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and a probe molecule, 3,3,3-trifluoropropyldimethylchlorosilane. We find that the edge hydroxyl groups (OH) increase in both number and density with acid treatment. Chemical reactions in the atmosphere may be impacted by the increase in OH at the mineral edge.

Sihvonen, Sarah K.↗
DOE OSTI2021

A Missing Puzzle in Dissociative Electron Attachment to Biomolecules: The Detection of Radicals

Ionizing radiation releases a flood of low-energy electrons that often causes the fragmentation of the molecular species it encounters. Special attention has been paid to the electrons’ contribution to DNA damage via the dissociative electron attachment (DEA) process. Although numerous research groups worldwide have probed these processes in the past, and many significant achievements have been made, some technical challenges have hindered researchers from obtaining a complete picture of DEA. Therefore, this research perspective calls urgently for the implementation of advanced techniques to identify non-charged radicals that form from such a decomposition of gas-phase molecules. Having well-described DEA products offers a promise to benefit society by straddling the boundary between physics, chemistry, and biology, and it brings the tools of atomic and molecular physics to bear on relevant issues of radiation research and medicine.

Ptasinska, Sylwia (ORCID:0000000275508189)↗